Стража! Стража!

           "-currentlydomiciledinthedomicileknownasThePalace,Ankh-Morpork,itismydutytoinformyouthatyouhavebeenarrestedandwillbechargedwith-"CarrotgaveVimesanagonisedlook-"anumberofoffencesofmurderbymeansofabluntinstrument,towhit,adragon,andmanyfurtheroffencesofgeneralisedabetting,tobemorespecificallyascertainedlater.Youhavetherighttoremainsilent.Youhavetherightnottobesummarilythrownintoapiranhatank.Youhavetherighttotrialbyordeal.Youhavethe-"

           "Thisismadness,"saidthePatriciancalmly.

           "IthoughtItoldyoutoshutup!"snappedVimes,spinningaroundandshakingafingerunderthePatrician’snose.

           "Tellme,Sarge,"whisperedNobby,"doyouthinkwe’regoingtolikeitinthescorpionpit?"

           "-sayanything,er,butanythingyoudosaywillbewrittendown,er,here,inmynotebook,and,er,maybeusedinevidence-"

           Carrot’svoicetrailedintosilence.

           "Well,ifthispantomimegivesyouanypleasure,Vimes,"saidthePatricianeventually,"takehimdowntothecells.I’lldealwithhiminthemorning."

           Wonsemadenosignal.Therewasnoscreamorcry.HejustrushedatthePatrician,swordraised.

           OptionsflickeredacrossVimes’smind.Intheleadcamethesuggestionthatstandingbackwouldbeagoodplan,letWonsedoit,disarmhimafterwards,letthecitycleanitselfup.Yes.Agoodplan.

           Anditwasthereforeatotalmysterytohimwhyhechosetodartforward,bringingCarrot’sswordupinahalf-bakedattemptatblockingthestroke...