Leia quoted Agatha H. and the voice of the castle by Phil Foglio (A girl genius novel -- 3)
Agatha nodded. “I…see. You don’t meet many mad social scientists.” Mittlemind snorted. “Of course not! All the funding goes towards building those flashy clanks and death rays! It’s so unfair! “I told the Baron: ‘Give me a thousand orphans, a hedge maze, and enough cheese and I can give you the Empire of the Polar Lords within three years!’ But noooo…”
— Agatha H. and the voice of the castle by Phil Foglio, Kaja Foglio (A girl genius novel -- 3) (67%)
lol.