human
I know nothing about the matter,
gpt
Excellency, continued the cabman,
human
Go on.
gpt
A big man who looked more like a workman than a servant came to call me in the square. When we got here, he unlocked the door himself, and made me help him to put the gentleman into the cab. It was about half-past five or a quarter to six, Excellency, and I waited at the hospital door till eight o'clock, but could not get any money.
human
What became of the big man who called you? asked Volterra.
gpt
Why did he not pay you?
human
He was arrested, Excellency.
gpt
Arrested? Why? For taking a wounded man to the hospital?
human
Yes. You can imagine that I did not wish to be concerned in other people's troubles, Excellency, nor to be asked questions. So when I had seen the man and the doorkeepers take the gentleman in, I drove on about twenty paces, and waited for the man to come out. 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.
gpt
What did you do then?
human
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.
gpt
Is that all that happened? asked Volterra.
human
Do you know nothing more?
gpt
Nothing, your Excellency, whined the man,
human
Yes, interrupted Volterra,
gpt
I suppose so. And what do you know about it all?
human
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.
gpt
That is perfectly clear, the Baron said, taking out his pocket-book.
human
You have no complaint to make, except that you were not paid, he continued, speaking to the cabman.
gpt
There are ten francs, which is much more than is owing to you. Give me your number.