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'Bang?'

' 'S'right Then our friend nips into the hole for a few seconds, right, coain, trots around the courtyard and next'em What the hell Another man in black No-one notices, see?'

'You mean he's still in there?'

'How do I know? Hoods and cloaks, everyone in black 'How come you were able to fee this?'

'Oh, I always nip into the Assassins' Guild on a Wednesday night Mixed grill night, see?' Gaspode sighed at Angua's blank expression 'The cook always does a ht No-one ever eats the black pudding So it's round the kitchens, see, oof, beg beg, who's a good boy then, look at the little bugger, he looks as though he understands every word I'y'

He looked embarrassed for a e is a sausage,' he said

'Fireworks?' said Vi a floating log in a choppy sea

'Yes Fireworks Yes For Founder's Day Unfortunately sonited the box' Dr Cruces suddenly s his hands, 'much as I appreciate your concern, I really--'

'They were stored in that room over there?' said Vimes

'Yes, but that's of no account--'

Vimes crossed to the hole in the wall and peered inside A couple of Assassins glanced at Dr Cruces and reached nonchalantly towards various areas of their clothing He shook his head His cautionto do with the way Carrot put his hand on the hilt of his sword, but it could also have been because Assassins did have a certain code, after all It was dishonourable to kill so paid

'It seems to be some kind of?'

'Yes, exactly Odd and ends You kno they mount up over the years'

'Oh Well, that all seems in order,' said Vi I hope I have not inconvenienced you in any way'

'Of course not! Glad to have been able to put your ently yet firlass,' said Captain Viain 'So around Wouldn't like to see one of your people get hurt'

'We Shall be doing it right this minute, captain,' said Dr Cruces

'Good Good Thank you very much' Captain Vimes paused at the doorway, and then thumped the palm of his hand on his forehead 'Sorry, excuse me – mind like a sieve these days – as it you said was stolen?'

Not a muscle, not a sinewwas stolen, Captain Viaped at hiht! Sorry! Of course, you didn'tApologiesWork getting on top of , then'

The door slaht,' said Vian Vimes held up a hand

'That wraps it up, then,' he said, slightly louder than necessary 'Nothing to worry about Let's get back to the Yard Where's Lance-Constable Whatsherna out of the alley

'Hiding, eh? And what's that?'

'Woof hine whine'

'It's a little dog, captain'

'Good grief'

The clang of the big corroded Inhuh the Assassins' Guild Black-clad figures ca in their haste to get to the courtyard

The Guild council, assembled hurriedly outside Dr Cruces' office His deputy, Mr Downey, knocked tentatively at the door

'Come'

The council filed in

'Cruces' office was the biggest roo to visitors that the Assassins' Guild had such light, airy, well-designed preentle where death was plotted on a daily basis

Cheery sporting prints lined the walls, although the quarry was not, when you looked closely, stags or foxes There were also group etchings – and, raphs – of the Guild, rows of sesta face[6]

Down one side of the rooany table where the elders of the Guild sat in weekly session The other side of the room held Cruces' private library, and a small workbench Above the bench was an apothecary cabinet, made up of hundreds of little drawers The names on the drawer labels were in Assassins' code, but visitors froenerally sufficiently unnerved not to accept a drink

Four pillars of black granite held up the ceiling They had been carved with the names of noted Assassins from history Cruces had his desk foursquare between the behind it, his expression almost as wooden as the desk

'I want a roll-call,' he snapped 'Has anyone left the Guild?'

'No, sir'

'How can you be so sure?'

'The guards on the roofs in Filigree Street say no-one ca the one another, sir'

'Very well Listen carefully I want the , I want everyone watched And then the Guild is going to be searched from top to bottom, do you understand?'

'What for, doctor?' said a junior lecturer in poisons

'Foranything that is hidden If you find anything and you don't knohat it is, send for a council member immediately And don't touch it'

'But doctor, all sorts of things are hidden--'

'This will be different, do you understand?'

'No, sir'

'Good And no-one is to speak to the wretched Watch about this You, boybring o and tell the Patrician'

'Hard luck, sir'

The captain didn't say anything until they were crossing the Brass Bridge

'Now then, Corporal Carrot,' he said, 'you kno I've always told you how observation is important?'

'Yes, captain I have always paid careful attention to your remarks on the subject'

'So what did you observe?'

'Someone'd smashed a mirror Everyone knows Assassins like mirrors But if it was a museum, as there a mirror there?'

'Please, sir?'

'Who said that?'

'Down here, sir Lance-Constable Cuddy'