Vimes thought of supersonic contrails criss-crossing the sky.

'Er,' he said. 'Yes.'

'Well, we must get on.'

'Er, isn't Lady Ramkin around?' said Vimes. 'I got this message that it was essential, she said, for me to come here.'

'She's indoors somewhere,' said Miss Rodley. 'Said she had something important to see to. Oh, do be careful with that one, Rose, you silly gel!'

'More important than dragons?' said Vimes.

'Yes. Can't think what's come over her.' Brenda Rodley fished in the pocket of an oversized waistcoat. 'Nice to have met you, Captain. Always good to meet new members of the Fancy. Do drop in any time you're passing, I'd be only too happy to show you around.' She extracted a grubby card and pressed it into his hand. 'Must be off now, we've heard that some of them are trying to build nests on the University tower. Can't have that. Must get 'em down before it gets dark.'

Vimes squinted at the card as the women crunched off down the drive, carrying nets and ropes.

It said: Brenda, Lady Rodley. The Dower House, Quirm Castle, Quirm. What it meant, he realized, was that striding away down the path like an animated rummage stall was the dowager Duchess of Quirm, who owned more country than you could see from a very high mountain on a very clear day. Nobby would not have approved. There seemed to be a special land of poverty that only the very, very rich could possibly afford . . .

That was how you got to be a power in the land, he thought. You never cared a toss about whatever anyone else thought and you were never, ever, uncertain about anything.

Вы читаете Guards! Guards!
Добавить отзыв
ВСЕ ОТЗЫВЫ О КНИГЕ В ИЗБРАННОЕ

0

Вы можете отметить интересные вам фрагменты текста, которые будут доступны по уникальной ссылке в адресной строке браузера.

Отметить Добавить цитату