Стража! Стража!

           Therewerefootstepsinthepassageoutsideandfourofthepalaceguardspaddedin,swordsdrawn.

           "Iwouldn’tputupafight,ifIwereyou,"Wonsewenton."They’redesperateanduneasymen.Butveryhighlypaid."

           Vimessaidnothing.Wonsewasagloater.Youalwaysstoodachancewithgloaters.TheoldPatricianhadneverbeenagloater,youcouldsaythatforhim.Ifhewantedyoudead,youneverevenheardaboutit.

           Thethingtodowithgloaterswasplaythegameaccordingtotherules.

           "You’llnevergetawaywithit,"hesaid.

           "You’reright.You’reabsolutelyright.Butneverisalongtime,"saidWonse."Noneofusgetawaywithanythingforthatlong."

           "Youshallhavesometimetoreflectonthis,"hesaidandnoddedtotheguards."Throwhiminthespecialdungeon.Andthengoaboutthatotherlittletask."

           "Er,"saidtheleaderoftheguards,andhesitated.

           "What’sthematter,man?"

           "You,er,wantustoattackhim?"saidtheguardmiserably.Thickthoughthepalaceguardwere,theywereasawareaseveryoneelseoftheconventions,andwhenguardsaresummonedtodealwithonemaninoverheatedcircumstancesit’snotagoodtimeforthem.Thebugger’sboundtobeheroic,hewasthinking.Thisguardwasnotlookingforwardtoafutureinwhichhewasdead.

           "Ofcourse,youidiot!"

           "But,er,there’sonlyoneofhim,"saidtheguardcaptain.

           "Andhe’ssmilin’,"saidamanbehindhim.

           "Prob’lygoin’toswingonthechandeliersanyminute,"saidoneofhiscolleagues.