Lionel resolved to make his way to the local authorities, trying to get some advice on what he could do to collect a debt.  Maybe he'd get lucky and skipping out on payment when one has the money was a crime in the city.  By the time the halfling was done, he'd likely have handed off his money to an orc friend for a small holding fee to be too poor to resolve his credit.  Things didn't seem very organized here, but a lawful society shouldn't stand for that sort of thing... and taking it out on the halfling's hide was allowed, Lionel was even willing to consider it.