"Just so.  An equitable exchange."<br/><br/>The urchin gestures.<br/><br/>"Yonder sits old Eloplaster, City Registrar and keeper of the tome of sumtuary laws...old, complex, and often to the detriment of creative and enterprising chefs.  It is he who is the prime architect of my present disenfranchised state.  Yet, should you win with my help, that is almost as good as winning myself...as he has set forth his own nepotistic proxy to force the contest in his favor.  Thus is my motive, and my interest: his humiliation is a sweeter prize than mere terces.  Does this still interest you?"