He grins. "So you are already a step ahead of the general population, because you know how to see the world as it is. From there, you need only learn to look a little more closely."

Gesturing at the table between them, he continues, "This, for example. It does not seem terribly informative at first glance, I suppose, but there may be one or two points of interest about it. See anything?"

The surface is one of those fake marble patterns, stained with faint rings where previous patrons set down their beverages. The metal rim is dented in a few places.