'No, sir. That's just how they chop up the food.'
'Oh, I see. I thought perhaps the food-tasters were getting over-enthusiastic,' said the Patrician. 'My word. What a treat I have to look forward to.'
'I can see you're feeling better, sir,' said Vimes stiffly.
'Thank you, Vimes.'
When Vimes had gone Lord Vetinari ate the pizza, or at least those parts of it he thought he could recognize. Then he put the tray aside and blew out the candle by his bed. He sat in the dark for a while, then felt under his pillow until his finger located a small sharp knife and a box of matches.
Thank goodness for Vimes. There was something endearing about his desperate, burning and above all misplaced competence. If the poor man took any longer he'd have to start giving him hints.
In the main office Carrot sat alone, watching Dorfl.
The golem stood where it had been left. Someone had hung a dishcloth on one arm. The top of its head was still open.
Carrot spent a while with his chin on one hand, just staring. Then he opened a desk drawer and took out Dorfl's chem. He examined it. He got up. He walked over to the golem. He placed the words in the head.
An orange glow rose in Dorfl's eyes. What was baked pottery took on that faintest of auras that marked the change between the living and the dead.
Carrot found the golem's slate and pencil and pushed them into Dorfl's hand, then stood back.
The burning gaze followed him as he removed his sword belt, undid his breastplate, took off his jerkin and pulled his woollen vest over his head.
The glow was reflected from his muscles. They glistened in the candlelight.
'No weapons,' said Carrot. 'No armour. You see? Now listen to me . .
Dorfl lurched forward and swung a fist. ;Let me put it like this,' said Cheery. 'If these rats had been poisoned with lead instead of arsenic, you'd have been able to sharpen their noses and use them as a pencil.'
She lowered the beaker.
'Are you sure?' said Carrot.
'Yes.'
'Wee Mad Arthur wouldn't poison rats, would he? Especially not rats that were going to be eaten.'
'I've heard he doesn't like dwarfs much,' said Angua.
'Yes, but business is business. No one who does a lot of business with dwarfs likes them much, and he must supply every dwarf cafe and delicatessen in the city.'
'Maybe they ate arsenic before he caught them?' said Angua.'People use it as a rat poison, after all...'
'Yes,' said Carrot, in a very deliberate way. 'They do.'
'You're not suggesting that Vetinari tucks into a nice rat every day?' said Angua.
'I've heard he uses rats as spies, so I don't think he uses them as elevenses,' said Carrot. 'But it'd be nice to know where Wee Mad Arthur gets his from, don't you think?'
'Commander Vimes said he was looking after the Vetinari case,' said Angua.
'But we're just finding out why Gimlet's rats are full of arsenic/ said Carrot, innocently. 'Anyway, I was going to ask Sergeant Colon to look into it.'
'But... Wee Mad Arthur?' said Angua. 'He's mad.'
'Fred can take Nobby with him. I'll go and tell him. Um. Cheery?'
'Yes, Captain?'