What does the arthur's note mean?
Context:(From 'Raising Steam' by Terry Pratchett)
The thought of Vetinari was still proving hard to banish later that evening when Moist finally bunked down in the guard's van. As the motion of the train lulled him into a tired and relieved doze, an image of the Patrician swam into Moist's mind. He shuddered at the recollection of his recent encounter. Vetinari had been at his desk reading reports of what looked suspiciously to Moist like other people's clacks messages. He had frowned when he saw Moist and said, 'Well now, Mister Lipwig, is the train already cleared for Uberwald, by any chance?
Question:
Immediately after the 4th sentence, the author wrote a note: Although this accusation has never been levelled by anybody at his lordship, which is to say, none have been found.
What is the accusation exactly? What does 'been levelled by anybody at his lordship' mean? What does 'none' refer to?
Tips: Moist was on a mission given by Vetinari (also know as the Partrician and his lordship in the context) to send an important political figure to Uberwald.

Question

What does the arthur's note mean?
Context:(From 'Raising Steam' by Terry Pratchett)
The thought of Vetinari was still proving hard to banish later that evening when Moist finally bunked down in the guard's van. As the motion of the train lulled him into a tired and relieved doze, an image of the Patrician swam into Moist's mind. He shuddered at the recollection of his recent encounter. Vetinari had been at his desk reading reports of what looked suspiciously to Moist like other people's clacks messages. He had frowned when he saw Moist and said, 'Well now, Mister Lipwig, is the train already cleared for Uberwald, by any chance?
Question: 
Immediately after the 4th sentence, the author wrote a note: Although this accusation has never been levelled by anybody at his lordship, which is to say, none have been found.
What is the accusation exactly? What does 'been levelled by anybody at his lordship' mean? What does 'none' refer to?
Tips: Moist was on a mission given by Vetinari (also know as the Partrician and his lordship in the context) to send an important political figure to Uberwald.

Answer

"Although this accusation has never been levelled by anybody at his lordship, which is to say, none have been found."

To "level an accusation" is "to accuse somebody of having done something"
In this instance, the notation means that nobody has accused the nobleman of wrongdoing. At least, no one can find anybody that has accused the nobleman.
It is written in a way that the reader should think that there is the possibility that anybody that accuses the nobleman will be killed or sent away somewhere.

Unfortunately, from the passage, I was unable to determine what the "accusation" was. An "accusation" is a statement that someone has done something before it has been proven.

Answers · 1

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