I longed to believe in the roller-blading. I wanted to believe that the new chairman of Christie's International really had only stopped blading to work 'when they put the gravel down in Hyde Park; they're such spoilsports in London'.
Lord Hindlip stuck, smiling, to his story, throwing in a couple of marathons as well, and it gave a much more enjoyable picture of the head of the world's second oldest auction house (James Christie opened his doors to furniture and art-buyers in London in 1766, 22 years after John Sotheby had opened his book-selling business) than the oddly Dickensian character who had seemingly been the subject of the faxed briefing I had from Christie's Hong Kong office.
Perhaps it was the title, or the fact that he has been with the group for 34 years, working his way up from Old Masters to the board of directors, or that I was told in advance that a full hour was needed for staff to escort him from interview at the Conrad to lunch at the China Club. But I had imagined this ex-Etonian, ex-guardsman to be far more of a staid traditionalist.
Lord Hindlip took up his new position six months ago, but was well-versed for the role, after several years as chairman of Christie's in London, which is still - just - the most important office in the new auction empire that stretches to 103 offices worldwide.
However, tough new taxation measures courtesy of the European Community are ensuring that Britain's days are numbered as the centre of art sales. London's number one position is being immediately challenged by New York, 'and in the future it could be Hong Kong' that is the world centre of the international art market.
'The London market became what it became because there were no taxes on works of art, not because it was a great home market - although, ironically, it is now the best it has been since I have been at Christie's,' Lord Hindlip said.