If that was meant to rile him up further, it doesn't really work. Funny how a Circle mage won't stoop to asking around 'the dregs' but they'll still desperately want to know if they know anything. At least, that's Childermass's own take and, of course, he sneers over it.

"Is that so?" He replies. "Sounds to me like you Circle mages might know what's going on sooner if you actually spoke to anyone besides your books for once, but I know that's asking too much. Social life is too much for you, isn't it?"