He made a tiny exclamation of sympathy; he held up his hand as if he put away from him a spectre of evil.
He looked back to Landon.
"You have heard, Signor?" he said.
"I have heard," said Landon, easily. "As a tale it has no originality and therefore little interest for me. I have heard it a hundred times. Your reverence found fault, a moment back, with my self-assumed status of judge. Are you going to borrow the cloak which you do not permit me to wear? You have heard both sides. To what proof can you refer a decision?"
The long, lean figure drew itself up very rigidly.
"I am a sinful man myself, Signor. I make no decisions. But I have been appealed to, as I understand, by those whom I find in your power. I shall not permit your restraint of them to continue. You can refer any grievance you have against them to properly constituted tribunals over there." He lifted his arm and pointed south to where storm and night hid Sicily.
He turned to Luigi.
"Emmanuele and I are, as you see, sodden to the skin. It may reach your great intelligence, by degrees, that we need warmth and refreshment."
The smuggler made an apologetic gesture.
"But certainly, Reverenza. There is in the house a fire. My poor provisions are at your service."