"Lying is allowed. Pretending not to notice is not." – note in the margin of the Bureau's rules, in the old keeper's hand
THE GATE BOOK OF SCHARTE Rules of the hour, as drafted by the Bureau and amended in the margin by the old keeper. Copied into the Book by the officer of the night. Bureau number 5120. RULES OF THE HOUR 1. Every person on the road may claim one hour with the officer in the customs room before the word is said at the chair. The officer may not refuse the hour. (Margin: You may shorten it. They will know why.) 2. The petitioner sits. The officer may sit or stand. (Margin: Stand.) 3. In the hour the petitioner may say anything. Nothing said in the hour is entered in the Book unless the officer enters it. (Margin: Enter nothing. The next officer is a stranger and should hear the story fresh.) 4. Lying is permitted. The Bureau does not require the petitioner to be truthful and does not require the officer to believe. (Margin: Lying is permitted. Pretending not to notice is not. The town will know by morning which you did.) 5. Offers of money, goods, service or information are permitted...
From the lore of The Last Pass.