Стража! Стража!

           Anotheroneof’em,thoughtVimes.Well,there’snolawaboutwearinglongblackrobesanddeepcowls.Therecouldbedozensofperfectlyinnocentreasonswhythispersoniswearinglongblackrobesandadeepcowlandstandinginfrontofamelted-downhouseatdawn.

           PerhapsIshouldaskhimtonamejustone.

           Hesteppedout.

           "Excuseme,sir-"hebegan.

           Thecowlswungaround.Therewasahissofindrawnbreath.

           "Ijustwonderifyouwouldmind-afterhim,lance-constable!"

           Thefigurehadagoodstart.ItscuttledalongthestreetandhadreachedthecornerbeforeVimeswashalfwaythere.Heskiddedarounditintimetoseeashapevanishdownanalley.

           Vimesrealisedhewasrunningalone.HepantedtoahaltandlookedbackjustintimetoseeCarrotjoggentlyaroundthecorner.

           "What’swrong?"hewheezed.

           "SergeantColonsaidIwasn’ttorun,"saidCarrot.

           Vimeslookedathimvaguely.Thenslowcomprehensiondawned.

           "Oh,"hesaid."I,er,see.Idon’tthinkhemeantineverycircumstance,lad."Hestaredbackintothefog."Notthatwehadmuchofachanceinthisfogandthesestreets."

           "Mighthavebeenjustaninnocentbystander,sir,"saidCarrot.

           "What,inAnkh-Morpork?"

           "Yes,sir."

           "Weshouldhavegrabbedhim,then,justfortherarityvalue,"saidVimes.

           HepattedCarrotontheshoulder."Comeon.We’dbettergetalongtothePatrician’spalace."

           "TheKing’spalace,"correctedCarrot.

           "What?"saidVimes,histrainofthoughttemporarilyshunted.

           "It’stheKing’spalacenow,"saidCarrot.