Dear lord. Is the Grim General actually looking at him with something aside from disapproval? Someone catch him; he might swoon. He certainly would swoon if it didn't mean missing out on this opportunity - probably the only one he'll actually get. This is his first and last opening; better not screw it up.

"ImpSec trained," he responds. Then, half-lifting his hand to fend off the man's scorn - "I'm an irregular. A paid informant. I watch High Vor society and report back, and any useful intel makes its way to the Emperor's ears." A different Emperor's ears, admittedly, but really, who needs to be bothered with such details? They just distract from the much more useful information he's giving. "Hence my general mien - Vor such as myself tend to go rather overlooked. People guard their tongues around clever men; they don't around witty fools." (He supposes he could have done without insisting on the witty, but he does need to salvage his pride a bit. Especially in front of a Vorkosigan. Especially in front of this Vorkosigan.)

"You have a full fighting force of respectable, honest, decent men - and amongst them, a nest of snakes." He gives a half-bow. "I am a weasel, my lord, I admit it freely. But don't weep over the fact that you've been burdened with me; you see, weasels make a dinner of snakes."