Стража! Стража!

           Carrotstraightenedupfromhishabitualstoop.Nobbyvibratedwithsoldierlybearing,handsthruststraightdownbyhissides,thumbspointingsharplyforward,pigeonchestinflatedsomuchthathisfeetwereindangerofleavingtheground.

           "Ialwaysthinkwecanallsleepsaferinmybedknowingthatthesebravemenarewatchingoverus,"saidLadyRamkin,walkingsedatelyalongtherank,likeatreasuregalleonrunningaheadofamildbreeze."Andwhoisthis?"

           Itisdifficultforanorangutantostandtoattention.Itsbodycanmasterthegeneralidea,butitsskincan’t.TheLibrarianwasdoinghisbest,however,standinginasortofrespectfulheapattheendofthelineandmaintainingthekindofcomplexsaluteyoucanonlyachievewithafour-footarm.

           "’E’splainclothes,ma’am,"saidNobbysmartly."SpecialApeServices."

           "Veryenterprising.Veryenterprisingindeed,"saidLadyRamkin."Howlonghaveyoubeenanape,myman?"

           "Oook."

           "Welldone."SheturnedtoVimes,whowasdefinitelylookingincredulous.

           "Acredittoyou,"shesaid."Afinebodyofmen-"

           "Oook."

           "-anthropoids,"correctedLadyRamkin,withbarelyabreakintheflow.

           Foramomenttherankfeltasthoughtheyhadjustreturnedfromsingle-handedlyconqueringadistantprovince.Theyfelt,infact,tremendouslybucked-up,whichwashowLadyRamkinwouldalmostcertainlyhaveputitandwhichwasdefinitelyseverallettersofthealphabetawayfromhowtheynormallyfelt.