Стража! Стража!

           "Yes!I’vegotthepalaceguardsonmyside!Theyfollowme,notyou!No-onelikesyou,youknow.No-oneeverlikedyou."

           HeswungtheswordsothatitsneedlepointwasafootfromthePatrician’sthinchest.

           "Soit’sbacktothecellsforyou,"hesaid."AndthistimeI’llmakesureyoustaythere.Guards!Guards!"

           Therewastheclatterofrunningfeetoutside.Thedoorrattled,thechairshook.Therewasamoment’ssilence,andthendoorandchaireruptedinsplinters.

           "Takehimaway!"screamedWonse."Fetchmorescorpions!Puthimin...you’renotthe-"

           "Putthesworddown,"saidVimes,whilebehindhimCarrotpickedbitsofdooroutofhisfist.

           "Yeah,"saidNobby,peeringaroundthecaptain."Upagainstthewallandspread’em,motherbreath!"

           "Eh?What’shesupposedtospread?"whisperedSergeantColonanxiously.

           Nobbyshrugged."Dunno,"hesaid."Everything,Ireckon.Safestway."

           Wonsestaredattherankindisbelief.

           "Ah,Vimes,"saidthePatrician."Youwill-"

           "Shutup,"saidVimescalmly."Lance-constableCarrot?"

           "Sir!"

           "Readtheprisonerhisrights."

           "Yes,sir."Carrotproducedhisnotebook,lickedhisthumb,flickedthroughthepages.

           "LupineWonse,"hesaid,"AKALupinSquiggleSec’yPP-"

           "Wha?"saidWonse.