Стража! Стража!

           "Afterall,justoneamonth!Inexchangeforsomuch!Thefamiliesofpeopleofusetotheking,PrivyCouncillorssuchasyourselves,wouldnot,ofcourse,evenbeconsidered.Andwhenyouthinkofallthealternatives..."

           Theydidn’tthinkaboutallthealternatives.Itwasenoughtothinkaboutjustoneofthem.

           ThesilencepurredatthemasWonsetalked.Theyavoidedoneanother’sfaces,forfearofwhattheymightseemirroredthere.Eachmanthought:oneoftheothersisboundtosaysomethingsoon,someprotest,andthenI’llmurmuragreement,notactuallysayanything,I’mnotasstupidasthat,butdefinitelymurmurveryfirmly,sothattheotherswillbeinnodoubtthatIthoroughlydisapprove,becauseatatimelikethisitbehoovesalldecentmentonearlystandupandbealmostheard...

           Butno-onesaidanything.Thecowards,eachmanthought.

           Andno-onetouchedthepudding,orthebrick-thickchocolatemintsservedafterwards.Theyjustlistenedinflushed,gloomyhorrorasWonse’svoicedronedon,andwhentheyweredismissedtheytriedtoleaveasseparatelyaspossible,sothattheydidn’thavetotalktooneanother.

           Exceptfortheheadmerchant,thatis.Hefoundhimselfleavingthepalacewiththechiefassassin,andtheystrolledsidebyside,mindsracing.Thechiefmerchanttriedtolookonthebrightside;hewasoneofthosemenwhoorganisesing-songswhenthingsgodrasticallywrong.

           "Well,well,"hesaid."Sowe’reprivycouncillorsnow.Justfancy."

           "Hmm,"saidtheassassin.