Jingo

spoke it was, indeed, in a sort of yawn.
    “Whose fitness , Mister Vimes, lies in a thousand years of breeding for leadership,” he said.
    The “Mister” twisted in Vimes’s chest. He knew he was a mister, would always be a mister, was probably a blueprint for mistership, but he’d be damned if he wouldn’t be Sir Samuel to someone who pronounced years as “hyahs.”
    “Ah, good breeding,” he said. “No, sorry, don’t have any of that , if that’s what you need to get your own men killed by sheer—”
    “Gentlemen, please,” said the Patrician. He shook his head. “Let’s have no fighting, please. This is, after all, a council of war. As for re-forming the regiments, well, this is of course your ancient right. The supplying of armed men in times of need is one of the duties of a gentleman. History is on your side. The precedents are clear enough, I can’t go against them. I have to say I cannot afford to.”
    “You’re going to let them play soldiers?” said Vimes.
    “Oh, Commander Vimes,” said Mr. Burleigh, smiling. “As a military man yourself, you must—”
    Sometimes people can attract attention by shouting. They might opt for thumping a table, or even take a swing at someone else. But Vimes achieved the effect by freezing, by simply doing nothing. The chill radiated off him. Lines in his face locked like a statue.
    “ I am not a military man .”
    And then Burleigh made the mistake of trying to grin disarmingly.
    “Well, commander, the helmet and armor and everything…It’s really all the same in the end, isn’t it?”
    “ No. It’s not .”
    “Gentlemen…” Lord Vetinari put his hands flat on the table, a sign that the meeting had ended. “I can only repeat that tomorrow I shall be discussing the matter with Prince Khufurah—”
    “I’ve heard good reports of him,” said Lord Rust. “Strict but fair. One can only admire what he’s doing in some of those backward regions. A most—”
    “No, sir. You are thinking of Prince Cadram,” said Lord Vetinari. “Khufurah is the younger brother. He is arriving here as his brother’s special envoy.”
    “Him? That one? The man’s a wastrel! A cheat! A liar! They say he takes bri—”
    “Thank you for your diplomatic input, Lord Rust,” said the Patrician. “We must deal with facts as they are. There is always a way. Our nations have many interests in common. And of course it says a lot for the seriousness with which Cadram is treating this matter that he is sending his own brother to deal with it. It’s a nod toward the international community.”
    “A Klatchian bigwig is coming here ?” said Vimes. “No one told me!”
    “Strange as it may seem, Sir Samuel, I am occasionally capable of governing this city for minutes at a time without seeking your advice and guidance.”
    “I meant there’s a lot of anti-Klatchian feeling around—”
    “ A really greasy piece of work —” Lord Rust whispered to Mr. Boggis, in that special aristocratic whisper that carries to the rafters. “It’s an insult to send him here!”
    “I am sure that you will see to it that the streets are safe to walk, Vimes,” said the Patrician sharply. “I know you pride yourself on that sort of thing. Officially he’s here because the wizards have invited him to their big award ceremony. An honorary doctorate, that sort of thing. And one of their lunches afterward. I do like negotiating with people after the faculty of Unseen University have entertained them to lunch. They tend not to move about much and they’ll agree to practically anything if they think there’s a chance of a stomach powder and a small glass of water. And now, gentlemen…if you will excuse me…”
    The lords and leaders departed in ones and twos, talking quietly as they walked out into the hall.
    The Patrician shuffled his papers into order, running a thin finger along each edge of the pile, and then looked up.
    “You appear to be casting a shadow, commander.”
    “You’re not really going to allow them to re-form the regiments, are you?” said Vimes.
    “There is absolutely no law against it, Vimes. And it will keep them occupied. Every official gentleman is entitled, in fact I believe used to be required , to raise men when the city required it. And, of course, any citizen has the right to bear arms. Bear that in mind, please.”
    “Arms is one thing. Holding weapons in ’em and playing soldiers is another.” Vimes put his knuckles on the table and