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Boffo produced a large red and white handkerchief and blew his nose with a hu sound

'Classic,' he said 'It's what he would have wanted'

'Have you any idea what happened?' said Colon

'Oh, yes Brother Grineldi did the old heel-and-toe trick and tipped the urn down--'

'I mean, why did Beano die?'

'Um We think it was an accident,' said Boffo

'An accident,' said Colon flatly

'Yes That's what Dr Whiteface thinks' Boffo glanced upwards, briefly They followed his gaze The rooftops of the Assassins' Guild adjoined the Fools' Guild It didn't do to upset neighbours like that, especially when the only weapon you had was a custard pie edged with short-crust pastry

'That's what Dr Whiteface thinks,' said Boffo again, looking at his enoreant Colon liked a quiet life And the city could spare a clown or two In his opinion, the loss of the whole boiling could only htly happier place And yetand yethonestly, he didn't knohat had got into the Watch lately It was Carrot, that hat it was Even old Vis lie anya club, sort of thing, and it accidentally went off,' said Nobby He'd caught it, too

'No-one 'd want to kill young Beano,' said the down, in a quiet voice 'He was a friendly soul Friends everywhere'

Almost everywhere,' said Colon

The funeral was over The jesters, jokers and cloere going about their business, getting stuck in door-ways on the way There wasof prats It was a scene to

'All I know is,' said Boffo, in a low voice, 'that when I saw hi veryodd I called out to hiates and--'

'How do you ht, with a faint touch of pride People are Helping me with My Inquiries

'Dunno Odd Not quite himself--'

'This was yesterday?'

'Oh, yes In the ate rota--'

'Yesterday ?'

'That's what I said, --'

'Brother Boffo!'

'Oh, no--'towards theure

No doere funny That was the whole purpose of a clown People laughed at clowns, but only out of nervousness The point of cloas that, after watching the else that happened seemed enjoyable It was nice to know there was someone worse off than you Someone had to be the butt of the world

But even clowns are frightened of so, and that is the white-faced clown The one who never gets in the way of the custard The one in the shiny white clothes, and the deadpan white make-up The one with the little pointy hat and the thin mouth and the delicate black eyebrows

Dr Whiteface

'Who are these gentlean

'Night Watch, sir,' said Colon, saluting

'And why are you here?'

'Investigating our inquiries as to the fatal demise of the down Beano, sir,' said Colon

'I rather think that is Guild business, sergeant Don't you?'

'Well, sir, he was found in the--'

'I a we don't need to bother the Watch with,' said Dr Whiteface

Colon hesitated He'd prefer to face Dr Cruces than this apparition At least the Assassins were supposed to be unpleasant Cloere only one step away from mime artists, too

'No, sir,' he said 'It was obviously an acddent, right?'

'Quite so Brother Boffo will show you to the door,' said the head clown 'And then,' he added, 'he will report to my office Does he understand?'

'Yes, Dr Whiteface,' mumbled Boffo

'What'll he do to you?' said Nobby, as they headed for the gate

'Hat full of ash, probably,' said Boffo 'Pie inna face if I'ate

'A lot of us ain't happy about this,' he whispered 'I don't see why those buggers should get aith it We ought to go round to the Assassins and have it out with them'

'Why the Assassins?' said Colon 'Why would they kill a down?'

Boffo looked guilty 'I never said a thing!'

Colon glared at hi, Mr Boffo'

Boffo looked around, as if expecting a vengeful custard pie at any moment

'You find his nose,' he hissed 'You just find his nose His poor nose!'

The gate slaeant Colon turned to Nobby

'Did exhibit A have a nose, Nobby?'

'Yes, Fred'

'Then as that about?'

'Searchboil 'P'raps he meant a false nose You know Those red ones on elastic? The ones,' said Nobby, gri, 'they think are funny He didn't have one'

Colon rapped on the door, taking care to stand out of the way of any jolly a booby traps

The hatch slid aside

'Yes?' hissed Boffo

'Did you mean his false nose?' said Colon

'His real one! Now bugger off!'

The hatch snapped back

'Mental,' said Nobby, fir to you?' said Colon

'No It had a couple of holes in it'

'Well, I don't know about noses,' said Colon, 'but either Brother Boffo is dead wrong or there's so on'

'Like what?'