"That's part of the business, you know. Tell them what fine soldiers they are. Make it short. They won't listen very closely anyway."
CHAPTER XI
After some searching Padway located Thiudahad in the Ulpian Library. The little man was barricaded behind a huge pile of books. Four bodyguards sprawled on a table, a bench, and the floor, snoring thunderously. The librarian was glaring at them with a look compounded of hydrofluoric acid and cobra venom, but did not dare protest.
Thiudahad looked up blearily. "Oh, yes, it's the publisher chap. Martinus, isn't it?"
"That's right, my lord. I might add that I'm your new quaestor."
"What? What? Who told you so?"
"You did. You appointed me."
"Oh, dear me, so I did. Silly of me. When I get engrossed in books I really don't know what's going on. Let's see, you and Liuderis were going to fight the Imperialists, weren't you?"
"Hoc ille, my lord. It's all over."
"Really? I suppose you sold out to Belisarius, didn't you? I hope you arranged for an estate and an annuity from Justinian for me."