"
Ampho raised his nostrils to the rafters and howled with considerable
vigor for one of such advanced years, "It pleases his Majesty the
Emperor Euphrates that the House of Rababull, and all it's bond
persons, shall become the property of the Emperor, as compensation for
the death of one called Puffat, the son of a distant and honorable
relation!"
Deceased relations of the Emperor always "died honorably". If they
could not be said to have "died honorably", they were first formally
disowned, that their affairs might be judged the more harshly.
"Lastly," Emperor Euphrates finished, "a stipend is declared for the
widows of one called Rababull." He gave the nod to Borla.
Borla braced himself with an ever-so-slight, momentary lift to his
heels and shoulders, and said simply to Ampho, "His Majesty's mercies
are everlasting; let the widows become street beggars."
"The widows of the House of Rababull," Ampho bawled appropriately,
"have been granted royal permission to beg in the streets without
molestation, provided they do not impede pedestrian traffic or
interrupt the bar-gaining of the traders and honored thieves."
In other words, they could beg if they kept their silence about it and
managed to stick out their alms bowels in the paths of travelers
whilst keeping out from underfoot of both man and beast.
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