Стража! Стража!

           AndColonwaswearinganexpressionofalmostconstipatedimportance.Carrot’sarmourgleamed.

           Colonrippedoffatextbooksaluteforthefirsttimeinhislife.

           "Allpresentandcorrect,sah!"hebarked.

           "Verygood,Sergeant,"saidVimescoldly.HeturnedtothePatricianandraisedaneyebrowpolitely.

           LordVetinarigavealittlewaveofhishand.

           "Standeasy,orwhateveritisyouchapsdo,"hesaid."I’msureweneedn’twaitonceremonyhere.Whatdoyousay,Captain?"

           "Justasyoulike,sir,"saidVimes.

           "Now,men,"saidthePatrician,leaningforward,"wehaveheardsomeremarkableaccountsofyourmagnificenteffortsindefenceofthecity..."

           Vimeslethismindwanderasthegoldenplatitudesfloatedpast.ForawhilehederivedacertainamountofamusementfromwatchingthefacesoftheCouncil.AwholesequenceofexpressionsdriftedacrossthemasthePatricianspoke.Itwas,ofcourse,vitallyimportantthattherebeaceremonylikethis.Thenthewholethingcouldbeneatandsettled.Andforgotten.Justanotherchapterinthelongandexcitinghistoryofeckcetra,eckcetra.Ankh-Morporkwasgoodatstartingnewchapters.

           HistrawlinggazefellonLadyRamkin.Shewinked.Vimes’seyesswivelledfrontagain,hisexpressionsuddenlyaswoodenasaplank.

           "...tokenofourgratitude,"thePatricianfinished,sittingback.

           Vimesrealisedthateveryonewaslookingathim.

           "Pardon?"hesaid.

           "Isaid,wehavebeentryingtothinkofsomesuitablerecompense,CaptainVimes.