Стража! Стража!
Anyway,anyassassinwhotriedtoattackthePatricianwouldbehardputtoittofindenoughfleshtoinsertthedagger.
Whileotherlordsdinedonlarksstuffedwithpeacocks’tongues,LordVetinariconsideredthataglassofboiledwaterandhalfasliceofdrybreadwasanelegantsufficiency.
Itwasexasperating.Heappearedtohavenovicethatanyonecoulddiscover.You’dhavethought,withthatpale,equineface,thathe’dinclinetowardsstuffwithwhips,needles,andyoungwomenindungeons.Theotherlordscouldhaveacceptedthat.Nothingwrongwithwhipsandneedles,inmoderation.ButthePatricianapparentlyspenthiseveningsstudyingreportsand,onspecialoccasions,ifhecouldstandtheexcitement,playingchess.
Heworeblackalot.Itwasn’tparticularlyimpressiveblack,suchasthebestassassinswore,butthesober,slightlyshabbyblackofamanwhodoesn’twanttowastetimeinthemorningswonderingwhattowear.AndyouhadtogetupveryearlyinthemorningtogetthebetterofthePatrician;infact,itwaswisernottogotobedatall.
Buthewaspopular,inaway.Underhishand,forthefirsttimeinathousandyears,Ankh-Morporkoperated.Itmightnotbefairorjustorparticularlydemocratic,butitworked.Hetendeditasonetendsatopiarybush,encouragingagrowthhere,pruninganerranttwigthere.Itwassaidthathewouldtolerateabsolutelyanythingapartfromanythingthatthreatenedthecity,andhereitwas...
Hestaredatthestrickenwallforalongtime,whiletheraindrippedoffhischinandsoakedhisclothes.Behindhim,Wonsehoverednervously.
- Нет глав
