"Jonathan Stroud - Bartimaeus 3 - Ptolemy's Gate" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stroud Jonathan)

ministers, sir, regarding the propaganda campaigns in the outlying regions. For your approval.
Some new poster ideas . .."

"Let's see." He took a gulp of coffee, held out a hand. "Anything else?"

"The minutes of the last Council meetingтАФ"

"I'll read that later. Posters first." He scanned the topmost page. " 'Sign up to serve your
country and see the world'.. .What's that supposed to mean? More like a holiday brochure than
recruitment. Far too soft . . . Keep talking, PiperтАФI'm still listening."

"We've got the latest frontline reports from America, sir. I've ordered them a little. We should be
able to make another story out of the Boston siege."

"Stressing the heroic attempt, not the abject failure, I trust. . . ." Balancing the papers on his
knee, he smeared some gooseberry conserve upon a piece of toast. "Well, I'll try writing
something later. . . . Now then, this one's okayтАФ'Defend the mother country and make your
name' . . . Good. They're suggesting a farm-boy type looking manly, which is fine, but how
about putting his family groupтАФsay, parents and little sisterтАФin the background, looking
vulnerable and admiring? Play the domestic card."

Ms. Piper nodded eagerly. "Could show his wife too, sir."

"No.We're after the single ones. It's the wives who are most troublesome when they don't come
back." He crunched on his toast. "Any other messages?"

"One from Mr. Makepeace, sir. Came by imp. Wonders if you'll drop by and see him this
morning."

"Can't. Too busy. There'll be time later."

"His imp also dropped off this flyer...." With a rueful face, Ms. Piper held up a lilac-colored
paper. "It's advertising the premiere of his play later this week. From Wapping to Westminster,
it's called. The story of our Prime Minister's rise to glory. An evening we will never forget,
apparently."



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 Jonathan Stroud - Bartimaeus 3 - Ptolemy's Gate

Mandrake gave a groan. "If only we could. Put it in the bin. We've got better things to do than
discuss theater. What else?"

"Mr. Devereaux has sent a memo around too. Owing to the 'troublesome times,' sir, he's placed
the nation's most important treasures under special guard in the vaults of Whitehall. They will
remain there until he says otherwise."

Mandrake looked up then, frowning. "Treasures? Such as what?"