While he was busy with this, he explained what he had done.

The Captain, who knew that he was badly hurt and guessed that he might be lamed for life by unskilful treatment, was glad to hear that the famous Pieri had been called.

He said that he felt no pain worth speaking of, and he questioned his man as to the latter's impression of what had happened.

Pica did not believe in anarchists and gave it as his opinion that the ruffian was an ordinary bad character who was in daily expectation of being arrested for some crime and who had fallen asleep in his cups, not knowing that he was close to the magazine.

Being awakened suddenly, he had probably supposed himself overtaken by justice, had fired and run away.