Стража! Стража!

           "Thismingling,"saidSergeantColondelicately,"itwouldinvolvegoingintotavernsanddrinkingandsimilar,wouldit?"

           "Toacertainextent,"saidVimes.

           "Ah,"saidthesergeant,happily.

           "Inmoderation."

           "Rightyouare,sir."

           "Andatyourownexpense."

           "Oh."

           "Butbeforeyougo,"saidthecaptain,"doeitherofyouknowanyonewhomightknowanythingaboutdragons?Apartfromsleepingongoldandthebitwiththeyoungwomen,Imean."

           "Wizardswould,"volunteeredNobby.

           "Apartfromwizards,"saidVimesfirmly.Youcouldn’ttrustwizards.Everyguardknewyoucouldn’ttrustwizards.Theywereevenworsethancivilians.

           Colonthoughtaboutit."There’salwaysLadyRamkin,"hesaid."LivesinScooneAvenue.Breedsswampdragons.Youknow,thelittlebuggerspeoplekeepaspets?"

           "Oh,her,"saidVimesgloomily."IthinkI’veseenheraround.Theonewiththe’WhinnyIfYouLoveDragons’stickeronthebackofhercarriage?"

           "That’sher.She’smental,"saidSergeantColon.

           "Whatdoyouwantmetodo,sir?"saidCarrot.

           "Er.Youhavethemostimportantjob,"saidVimeshurriedly."Iwantyoutostayhereandwatchtheoffice."

           Carrot’sfacebroadenedinaslow,unbelievinggrin.

           "YoumeanI’mleftincharge,sir?"hesaid.

           "Inamannerofspeaking,"saidVimes."Butyou’renotallowedtoarrestanyone,understand?"headdedquickly.

           "Notevenifthey’rebreakingthelaw,sir?"

           "Noteventhen.Justmakeanoteofit.