Imperiumromanum，J。J。O’Molloysaidgently。ItsoundsnoblerthanBritishorBrixton。Thewordremindsonesomehowoffatinthefire。
MylesCrawfordblewhisfirstpuffviolentlytowardstheceiling。
That’sit，hesaid。Wearethefat。YouandIarethefatinthefire。Wehaven’tgotthechanceofasnowballinhell。TheGrandeurthatwasRomeWaitamoment，professorMacHughsaid，raisingtwoquietclaws。Wemustn’tbeledawaybywords，bysoundsofwords。WethinkofRome，imperial，imperious，imperative。
Heextendedelocutionaryarmsfromfrayedstainedshirtcuffs，pausing：
Whatwastheircivilisation？Vast，Iallow：butvile。Cloac&；Aelig；：