Well, there's a little more to it than that... Childermass steps in to actually explain. He nods towards the egg, though he also suspects Ignatius can figure out what it is immediately.

"This was never meant to be kept from you forever. It was also never meant to be returned under duress."

His attention flickers to Rita when he says that and she should know exactly why.

"Those you spoke with before, who may have promised you certain things, were never in any position to do so and while we cannot stop you from doing as you wish regarding certain members of the carnival after the fact, know that there are no actual stipulations attached to regaining your Heart."