He ignored the cocaine; he'd never been curious enough to study its effects on Time Lord physiology. It had been a tool for occasional blackmail, something to turn a seeming blind eye to to make underlings sweat. Spice sounded, indeed, like the sort of drug empires rose and fell around. He wondered idly if in his native universe, the Time Lords had wiped it out at the source. He noted the care with which the Baron handled the ornate little container; clearly precious, when he seemed profligate with drugs that mattered less to him.

"It sounds like your civilization's utterly dependent on the stuff. Wouldn't it do you more good to get a proper efficient stardrive? That would lessen your personal need for the stuff and make everyone else's squabbling much more entertaining."