Стража! Стража!

           Vimeswasvaguelyawareofabrilliantbluedressthatsparkledinthecandlelight,amassofhairthecolourofchestnuts,aslightlyanxiousfacethatsuggestedthatawholebattalionofskilledpaintersanddecoratorshadonlyjustdismantledtheirscaffoldingandgonehome,andafaintcreakingthatsaidunderneathitallmerecorsetrywasbeingsubjectedtothekindoftensionsmoreusuallyfoundintheheartoflargestars.

           "I,er,"hesaid."Ifyou,er.Ifyou’dsaid,er.I’d,er.Dressmoresuitable,er.Extremely,er.Very.Er."

           Sheboredownuponhimlikeaglitteringsiegeengine.

           Inasortofdreamheallowedhimselftobeusheredtoaseat.Hemusthaveeaten,becauseservantsappearedoutofnowherewiththingsstuffedwithotherthings,andcamebacklaterandtooktheplatesaway.Thebutlerreanimatedoccasionallytofillglassafterglasswithstrangewines.Theheatfromthecandleswasenoughtocookby.AndallthetimeLadyRamkintalkedinabrightandbrittleway-aboutthesizeofthehouse,theresponsibilitiesofahugeestate,thefeelingthatitwastimetotakeOne’sPositioninSocietyMoreSeriously,whilethesettingsunfilledtheroomwithredandVimes’sheadbegantospin.

           Society,hemanagedtothink,didn’tknowwhatwasgoingtohitit.Dragonsweren’tmentionedonce,althoughafterawhilesomethingunderthetableputitsheadonVimes’skneeanddribbled.

           Vimesfounditimpossibletocontributetotheconversation.Hefeltoutflanked,beleaguered.