Asking someone? Absolutely not. That way lies embarrassment and a quick dismissal. The card catalogue seems similarly dangerous - if there's nothing here, there'll be no more reason to hang around. Maybe she'll walk back to Beyond Beyond with him, but that'll be the end of it.

(If there is something here, the card catalogue will ensure they find it quickly, of course. But his instinct is still to let things stretch out a little more if he can.)

"Let's browse," he says, and starts walking towards the stairs. "We can test your 'religion' theory."