E avanti a lui tremava tutta Roma
While Matthew was in transit Inspector Vimes of Scotland Yard and his colleague, Sgt. Colon, attended on Sir Richard Carlisle in the charity ward of St. Swithin's Hospital.
Sir Richard was not a sight for sore eyes, rather he was a sight of sore eyes and a massive bandage where his nose must have been. Sir Richard dispensed with any pleasanties and got right to the point. "Did you find him? Hastings' associate? What did you find out?"
"I met with Mr. Hastings" Vimes replied. "I learnt a lot of things." He held out his hand to Colon who gave him an envelope. Vimes took out a photograph.
"Is that him? Hastings' associate? Let me see."
Vimes handed Sir Richard the photograph.
The eagerness with which Sir Richard grabbed it faded as he realized it was a photograph of Mary with two massive black eyes and her nose splayed all over her face. While he stared at it he heard Vimes talking.
"I learnt there is a warrant for your arrest in Yorkshire. A warrant that I can have in my hand the day after tomorrow."
Sir Richard was staring at Vimes now.
"I also learnt that some of your friends have passed the hat around and collected enough to provide you with a fresh start in Australia."
Vimes held out his hand and Colon gave him a second envelope. Vimes waved it at Sir Richard. "A train ticket to Portsmouth; passage to Australia, second class I'm afraid; and, a letter of credit good for a thousand pounds when you present it in person at the named bank in Sydney." Vimes looked at his watch. "The train leaves in 34 minutes, the ship sails on the tide tonight." Vimes stared at Sir Richard. "Well?"
Sir Richard at the envelope and then at the photograph of Mary. "But my face..."
Vimes shrugged "They say sea air has remarkable healing powers."
Sir Richard hadn't become a newspaper tycoon by failing to recognize when it was time to make a deal. He held out his hand for the envelope. Vimes held out his hand for the photograph. The exchange was made.
"Colon will give you a ride to the train station" said Vimes as he turned to the door; he had a lunch date with his old comrade in arms, the Earl of Grantham, and he didn't want to be late.
He stopped when he heard Sir Richard mutter "There's no justice" and turned back.
"Sir Richard you received the most basic justice of all, bibical even, 'a nose for a nose'; you should be grateful that you did not have to atone with other parts of your body." Vimes frowned. "If it had been my lady battered like that you would be missing a very important appendage right now. Think on that on your voyage."
Leaving that thought hanging in the air over Sir Richar's head Vimes left.