Merlin the Mad looks around to see who the other person standing in the back is. Now he wishes that he had taken a seat in the back, because people are staring at him.

"That's quite alright" he waves a hand deprecatingly, "I didn't come in here to drink. Besides, if you offer drinks, won't that deplete the fund a mite ? We shouldn't take anything away from THAT. Not if this fine woman is really in need of help. Carry on. Don't mind me".