Caprice and Rondo - Dorothy Dunnett [189]
‘A fabrication,’ said Squarciafico.
‘There were witnesses,’ Nicholas said. ‘Of high degree — two of them Genoese, of the family of Adorno. If my lord will allow, my lady could send for their statements.’
‘And on that occasion,’ Squarciafico said, ‘who was attempting to poison whom?’
‘I am a Mameluke,’ Nicholas said. ‘There was trouble at that time between the Venetians and the Mamelukes on Cyprus. I should not malign them, but there is a connection between the Corner family and Trebizond.’
Everyone knew what that was. He saw Anna’s face alter. The Treasurer said, ‘And the fact that the Spanish prisoner was wearing your clothes, and bore in his possession a note written by you, detailing the plans for his escape?’
‘The note is not mine. As for the clothes, I discarded them, lord, as soon as I arrived in the citadel. I never saw them again. I had no opportunity to pass them to de Marchena. I did not know him. I cannot tell why he believed I would help him, except that he would seize any chance to escape. In humility, lord,’ said Nicholas, his eyes on the floor, ‘I fear I am being made scapegoat for a killing which the Knights of St John will take badly, since it deprives them of one of the best seamen of his day. The man need not have been shot.’
There was a silence.
‘Well?’ said Anna.
Squarciafico stirred. ‘Madonna, I am sorry. We have given you and this man a hearing, but these are serious matters. It is not clear, even now, who is at fault.’
‘It is clear to me,’ Anna said. ‘It will be clear to the papal nuncio, under whose protection I travelled to Caffa. This man has served me loyally and well. He went to Qirq-yer at my desire, not his own. The negotiations he has undertaken on behalf of my company will bring prosperity to Caffa and to the Genoese both here and at home. He has no acquaintance with the dead prisoner, and no interest in him beyond that of the service he was asked to perform for which, I understand, he has not even been paid. Is he now to die because of a rumour?’
‘The accusation is serious,’ Squarciafico said again. ‘We cannot ignore it, madonna.’
‘Nor can you put him to death without trial,’ Anna said. ‘He has offered you witnesses. I have told you that your suspicions are baseless. Surrender him back to my keeping, and I will stand surety for him. Otherwise, I shall surely complain to a higher authority.’
They stood facing one another, the aristocratic Genoese and the fine-featured German Contessa. She had dressed for the journey as if attending a feast, in a high-waisted gown more ornate than any she normally wore, and her finest girdle and brooch. The loop of her headdress contrasted with the white of her brow, and its veil softened the jewels with which it was sewn. They were, Nicholas knew, all she had. They were to have paid for her return from Caffa if all else had failed. But he had saved her from that.
Squarciafico did not look at the jewels. He spoke instead, his eyes fixed on hers. ‘Contessa, it is not within my powers to release a possible spy. He cannot continue to live in this colony. He must stand trial, of leave.’
There was a little silence. ‘Or leave? But we are not leaving till spring,’ Anna said.
‘Madonna, I should ask no lady to travel in winter. But a man, a Circassian Mameluke accustomed to hardship, would surely survive. I trust to have the pleasure of your company for many weeks still to come,’ said Squarciafico. ‘But unless he wishes to submit to a trial whose outcome I cannot predict, your man must leave now.’
Nicholas lifted his head. For the first: time since the beginning, Anna’s eyes rested on his. Nicholas said, ‘I would wish to continue serving my lady. But if there is no choice, I will leave.’
‘Then I agree,’ Anna said; and bit her lip. She did not look round as he was turned from the room, and he did not see her leave, for by then he was locked in a cell. When, finally, he had begun to lose confidence, the door was opened, his pack was thrust in his arms, and he was marched under guard from the fortress. He thought,