conversation between traffick boss and pedestrian
traffick boss: "i'm so sorry for leaving my ivory tower. i am trying to return, i really am. please, can you point me the way?"
request to explain that traffick boss does not understand what is going on, and thinks he is still inside his ivory tower (because he has not seen the outside) and that other people inside it are punishing him for leaving. maybe additional commentary that this obviously happens in reality, but it happens in reality in _both_ senses, both figuratively and literally :/
pedestrian looks at traffick boss.
traffick boss knows the pedestrian is judging him for leaving his ivory tower. he sees in the pedestrian's gaze what a miscreant and stupidhead traffick boss is for leaving.