"So...Burly...what happened to you and Signor Rinaldi?"

"If it please your Excellency...I shall offer my full and truthful report. We were on our way to the wharf in the lagoon to take ship and follow the Englishman, Gandt. But mid-way to our destination, in passing a dark alley, we were asked by a young woman for help with something...and upon following her through the dark alley we found ourselves in a small square. I do not recall the place, as it was unfamiliar to me in the dark..but instead of someone needing help we found it swarming with many, many banditi...large, young fellows, very vicious and desperate..."

"I see...and these men...did you recognize any of them?"

"No Excellency, there were so many...two dozen at least...but they all had the look of very cruel fellows...gypsies and other cutthroats."

"Ah...and they did seek to rob you and Don Arrigo?

"Yes, they demanded our purses and weapons and our shoes...but we did not comply..."

"No?"

"No, Excellency. In point of fact, we advanced upon them at once...Don Arrigo led the way... he was most brave."

"I see. So you took on these ruffians...and how did it go?"

"Oh very well at first...together we bloodied a great many of them and sent them howling...but..."

"But..?"

"Well, Excellency, there were so many of them...and they were armed exceeding well with musketoons, and cutlasses, and all manner of dreadful weaponry...they forced me into a corner...and while they held me occupied, I could see them overwhelm Don Arrigo...he went down fighting, but I could see them carry him off..."

"In what direction?"

"oh...um...well I was so busy fighting, I could not really say for sure, but I think it was towards the canal that was nearby...I tried to follow but with their great numbers they forced me back..."

"And of course, you did not make it to the ship to follow Gandt?"

"No Excellency, the ship she was long gone ere I made it to the wharf. And seeing no sign of Signor Rinaldi anywhere, I thought it best I return at once to the headquarters to make my report."

"Alright...let's summarize what we have here...you don't know who any of these dozens of attackers were...you don't know where the attack took place, and you don't know in what direction they carried off Don Arrigo...Have you anything else useful to add?"

"No excellency. That is my full and honest report of the facts to the best of my recollection."

"Very well. This is most regrettable. And by the way...that's a nasty bump on your head there...you might wish to have that seen to...possibly a good bleeding might help. You may go."

"Thank you, Excellency. I do hope Signor Rinaldi is well...he is a most brave and..."

"Burly...just go..."

"Yes, Excellency."
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