Caprice and Rondo - Dorothy Dunnett [45]
Kathi said, ‘Elzbiete, I have no idea what he likes, except that it probably doesn’t exist. He’s had his share of the world’s beauties. He was married once to a courtesan. It would take a lot to surprise him, or hold him.’
Elzbiete had thought. Then she had said, ‘I do not know who would suit. But you must find him one, as my mother went out and found Gerta. A sick man can be healed by a woman.’
She had a high opinion of Elzbiete’s good sense, but had not mentioned this conversation to Robin. She did, however seek his advice.
‘Do you know that Nicholas wanted some information from Benecke, which Benecke was holding back?’
‘Was he? What about? I shouldn’t think he’ll get it now,’ Robin said. ‘They may be partners in business, but Benecke isn’t going to do Nicholas any favours at the moment.’
‘That’s what Elzbiete said,’ Kathi said.
‘Elzbiete? She knows what it was?’
‘Yes. She didn’t tell me this time. But I think she would, if I pressed her.’
‘And what good would that do?’ Robin said.
‘I don’t know. But failing a quite exceptional Gerta, I would snatch at absolutely anything.’ Kathi said, ‘to keep society safe from a second Tough Seabird. A pair of leg-irons. A contagious disease. An attack of religion.’
Robin stared at her. He said, ‘We might just manage that. I was going to tell you. Father Ludovico’s in Mewe.’
‘SO THERE YOU ARE,’ said Father Ludovico, skipping over the wet-beds and sitting down on an outcrop of stone. He peered round at the man already sitting there. ‘You’re lucky to have a set of strong teeth. Benecke’s lost so many now, he’ll have to resort to a liquid diet, I shouldn’t wonder.’
‘You’ve seen him,’ Nicholas said.
‘He tells me you’re going to be pirates together. Your early promise fulfilled. Why did you write to me, then?’
Below them, the renovated raft, somewhat smaller, was in process of being refloated. To the right, dim in the distance, more rafts could be seen coming in. Paúel Benecke was going to be far behind in the race. Nicholas said, ‘I’d forgotten that we didn’t get on.’
The Patriarch grunted. ‘I haven’t time for this rubbish. You thought you might come to Tabriz, then you found the two children were coming as well. That’s quite a nice little marriage. You’re jealous?’
‘Naturally,’ Nicholas said.
‘Well, thank God that’s a lie. What else are you lying about? Benecke said you were speaking of returning to Scotland.’
‘That was different. That was a joke,’ Nicholas said.
‘I imagine it was,’ said Father Ludovico.
Nicholas looked at him. The Patriarch said, ‘Yes, I know why you had to get out of your business. I made the Berecrofts boy tell me. As sins go, it marks a significant peak. But then, I never thought you would be satisfied by a little cheating, or a few simple betrayals and murders. It took an original imagination, I must say, to use your Bank to create such pure misery. Holy Father of Pity, sit down. I swore not to tell. Can’t you take the word of a priest?’
Nicholas remained standing. He said, ‘Of a priest? You’re a timber merchant’s son from Bologna who became a priest by a fluke.’
‘And who are you then?’ the Patriarch said. ‘An apprentice of eighteen, who never grew up. You wrote me a note, an idle letter from an idle man choosing a pastime. What about, you thought, a journey to the Shah Uzum Hasan in Tabriz, some good company, some interesting fighting, and perhaps a permanent post with some money in it? And along with it, some holy grease to slide you in past St Peter?’
‘You have it exactly,’ said Nicholas.
‘And then you thought, No, it would be more amusing to sit in a boat and play robbers. Which is just as well. I have nothing to offer you. Whoever is unsupported by the Mystery of Love shall not achieve the grace of salvation. Whoever shall cast love aside shall lose