Guards Guards - Gloater

There were footsteps in the passage outside and four of the palace guards padded in, swords drawn.

“I wouldn't put up a fight, if I were you,” Wonse went on. “They're desperate and uneasy men. But very highly paid.”

Vimes said nothing. Wonse was a gloater. You always stood a chance with gloaters. The old Patrician had never been a gloater, you could say that for him. If he wanted you dead, you never even heard about it.

The thing to do with gloaters was play the game according to the rules.

“You'll never get away with it,” he said.

“You're right. You're absolutely right. But never is a long time,” said Wonse. “None of us get away with anything for that long.”

“You shall have some time to reflect on this,” he said and nodded to the guards. “Throw him in the special dungeon. And then go about that other little task.”

***

Guards Guards - p285