‘You know I’m no good at diplomatic talk,’ he said.
‘On the contrary, Vimes, you appear to have amazed the diplomatic corps here in Ankh-Morpork,’ said Lord Vetinari. ‘They’re not used to plain speech. It confuses them. What was it you said to the Istanzian ambassador last month?’ He rifled through the papers on his desk. ‘Let me see, the complaint is here somewhere… Oh yes, on the matter of military incursions across the Slipnir river, you indicated that further transgressions would involve him, personally, that is to say the ambassador, and I quote “going home in an ambulance”.’
‘I’m sorry about that, sir, but it had been a long day and he was really getting on my-‘
‘Since when their armed forces have pulled back so far that they are nearly in the next country.’ Said Lord Vetinari, moving the paper aside. ‘I have to say that your observation complied only with the general thrust of my view in this matter but was, at least, succinct. Apparently you also looked at the ambassador in a threatening way.’
‘It was only the way I usually look.’
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