"You are a cool hand," said Cosmo. "The soldiers . . ."
"Who cares for the soldiers? They can't run."
"They have muskets, though."
"Oh, yes. I heard the shots and wondered at whom they were fired."
"At me. That's why I have got in here. There is one of them who can see in the dark," explained Cosmo, who had been very much impressed. His friend of the tower emitted a little chuckle.
"And so you have hidden yourself in here. Soldiers, water, and fire soon make room for themselves. But they did not know who they were after. They got the alarm from that beast."
He paused suddenly, and Cosmo asked: "Who was after you?"
"One traitor and God knows how many sbirri. If they had been only ten minutes later they would have never set eyes on me."
"I wonder they didn't manage to cut you off, if they were so many," said Cosmo.
"They didn't know. Look! Even now I have deceived them by doubling back. You see I was in a house." He seemed to hesitate.