[Looking honestly puzzled, Lyall assures her,]

As far as I am aware, I have never time-traveled, though I suppose one might call me a detective of sorts. I tend to spend far more time at paperwork than in actual investigative pursuits, though.

[Belatedly, he gets around to introductions.]

Professor Randolph Lyall, how do you do. Of London. England. I, ah, imagine this is nowhere near England....