But soon two
policemen came and went in, and came out again a few minutes later
with the big man walking quietly between them, and they went off in
the other direction, so that he did not even notice me."
"What did you do then?"
"May it please your Excellency, I went back to the door and asked the
doorkeeper why the man had been arrested, and told him I had not been
paid. But he laughed in my face, and advised me to go to the police
for my fare, since the police had taken the man away. And I asked him
many questions but he drove me away with several evil words."
"Is that all that happened?" asked Volterra. "Do you know nothing
more?"
"Nothing, your Excellency," whined the man, "and I am a poor father of
a family with eight children, and my wife is ill--"
"Yes," interrupted Volterra, "I suppose so. And what do you know about
it all?" he enquired, turning to the man in plain clothes.
"This, sir. The gentleman was still unconscious this morning, but
turns out to be a certain Signor Pompeo Sassi. His cards were in his
pocket-book. The man who took him to the hospital was arrested because
he entirely declined to give his name, or to explain what had
happened, or where he had found the wounded gentleman. Of course all
the police stations were informed during the night, as the affair
seemed mysterious, and when this cabman came this morning and lodged a
complaint of not having been paid for a fare from this palace to the
hospital, it looked as if whatever had happened, must have happened
here, or near here, and I was sent to make enquiries.
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