Original artwork, not a still
Occasionally words must serve to veil the facts. But let this happen in such a way that no one become aware of it; or, if it should be noticed, excuses must be at hand to be produced immediately.
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
The passage recommends using words to conceal facts while keeping that concealment unnoticed. It then adds a fallback: have excuses ready if someone notices. This presents deception as a calculated practice, with attention given both to hiding the truth and explaining away the attempt.
Context reviewed
