He told his subordinates to clear away the crowd, and explanations by Brett and Winter soon demonstrated the wisdom of an official _communique_ to the Press that the row on the pier was merely the outcome of a quarrel between some intoxicated sailors. The Chief of the Police politely offered to place detectives at the disposal of the Englishmen for the proper custody of their captive. Brett thanked him, but declined the proffered assistance, having decided to warn Winter not to interfere. "The only prisoner of interest," he explained, "received such severe injuries during a struggle which he brought on himself that he will be quite unable to be moved for several days. His right arm is broken, and his face has been reduced to a pulp. There is a stout Frenchman named Beaucaire and three Turks who accompanied him, whom I recommend to your safe custody. We bring no charge against them, but it would be as well to keep them under lock and key until we have left Palermo." "Do you mean the innkeeper Gros Jean and the Turks who accompanied him from Messina by train to-day?" "Yes." "You need not trouble about them. They have all been carried to the hospital." "What!" exclaimed Brett. "How did they come to be injured?" "I cannot tell you exactly, but they, together with some sailors from the fishing-smack, were knocked senseless by the crew of the steam yacht when the young lady was shot." "What young lady?" demanded Brett and Talbot together. This conversation had taken place in the entrance of the hotel, whilst Dubois was being carried to a bedroom by the servants. "Did you not know?" inquired the official gravely. "The young lady was of your company who stayed here with you--the niece of milord, the elderly gentleman." "Edith! Shot, did you say!" cried her brother, leaning against the barrister for support. "Yes, but not seriously, I hope. She has been brought here. The doctors are now with her in her room." "Who shot her?" demanded Brett savagely. "The person who was flung into the harbour by the other milord. It is stated that she is a woman, but really at this moment I have not heard all the facts. She was carried to the hospital with the others." The two waited to hear no more. They ran upstairs, and Talbot would have fallen twice had not Brett supported him. Reaching the corridor which contained their apartments they found Sir Hubert, Lord Fairholme, Daubeney, and Mr. Winter standing silently, a sorrowful, motionless group, outside Edith's room. "What terrible thing has happened?" Brett asked them. "Surely Miss Talbot cannot be seriously hurt?" The only one who could answer was Mr. Winter. "We hope not, sir," he said, "but the doctors will be here in a moment. They are extracting the bullet now." Before the bewildered barrister could frame another question the door of Edith's room opened noiselessly, and two Italian gentlemen emerged. One of them spoke English well. He addressed himself to Sir Hubert Fitzjames.