Possible Clues:

• Obtain information from counsel once about what may secure a brief
• Petty official procedures
• Rigid formality - bureaucracy
• Bureaucratic requirements
• Bureaucratic nuisance
• Embarrassed with wick that had been shortened by bureaucracy
• Bureaucracy evident with something bound to look colourful?
• Cause for delay
• Colourful ribbon associated with bureaucracy
• Excessive bureaucracy tapered out