[ Friend certainly is relative, as Jopson is reasonably sure the two of them wouldn't keep close company if their circumstances were different, but their circumstances are not different, and Friend is the most suitable descriptor here and now, among the devils they don't know and angels they can trust even less. He gets his key in the door and lets Irving in--it occurs to him for just a moment that Stephen might be in, but unlikely due to their work schedules. Stephen is nothing if not reliably work-oriented. They should have some privacy for the time being.

As he speaks, he makes to help Irving with his coat, to hang it up with his own. ]

Quite a bit, sir, both regarding this place and when I last saw you in life. Let's get you comfortable, have a cup of tea, and we can go through the weeds of it.

[ As he hangs up his own coat, he adds -- ]

Though you should know that I've already got someone contracted, so it wouldn't be just the two of us here.