Disorderly Knights - Dorothy Dunnett [27]
And meanwhile—‘As you have observed,’ said the Constable at last to Lymond as the marzipan was cleared away and the rosewater brought, ‘there are three Knights of Malta in this room. It is no coincidence. The Grand Prior and I have summoned M. de Villegagnon and M. Strozzi for the gravest of reasons.’
He paused. The Constable’s grand-uncle, as no one present ever forgot, had been first Grand Master of the Order of St John in Malta. It was one of the most useful relationships the Constable possessed, in an age where nepotism was not only legitimate but compulsory. Thoughtfully drying his hands on the towel proffered, ‘I cannot imagine why,’ said Lymond, and laid the silk down. ‘Unless the Sultan Suleiman is sending a corsair fleet against France?’
Piero Strozzi, commander and engineer, who had enjoyed every moment of his meal, caught the yellow-haired gentleman’s wide stare and grinned. ‘A little too disingenuous, sir,’ said the Florentine, and ignoring the Constable’s silence, continued comfortably.
‘Of course, France has been an ally of Turkey for years. We are not supporting the Moslem faith any more than Suleiman is supporting ours. But in face of the Emperor Charles V, dear small man who is enemy to us both, an alliance, military and naval, does exist. Added to that—’ Strozzi’s dark eyes strayed from the sardonic face of his brother to de Villegagnon’s steadfast stare, and from there to the Grand Prior’s flushed face. ‘Added to that is the fact that Malta and Gozo were the Emperor Charles’s gifts to the Order, which would be homeless without them. The Knights of St John have lived rent-free on Malta for twenty-one years on condition that they defend it from the Turks, together with its neighbour Gozo, and Tripoli, over on the African coast. So that those gentlemen of France who have taken the holy vows of the Order have on occasion the unpleasant task of deciding whether to fight for the Order in the interests of the Emperor against the Turk … or whether to defend France from the Emperor, despite the fact that France’s allies are the very Moslems they are sworn to exterminate.… Am I right?’ said Piero Strozzi, smiling, to de Villegagnon.
The Chevalier did not return the smile. He said stiffly to Francis Crawford, ‘The Grand Prior has already made the position clear. To all Knights in the Order, whatever their nationality, allegiance to their Faith and the Order comes first.’
It was then that the knotted fist of Constable Anne de Montmorency fell; that the table rattled, chiming with abandoned silver, and the linen sprang grey with rosewater stains. Thick-built and grizzled; older than any man present, the Constable of France reared to his feet and stared at them all, jewelled and negligent round the small table in the leather-dressed room. ‘Is it a time for toying with words?’ he exclaimed. ‘For parlour phrases and pettishness? Have ye forgotten?’
‘I have not forgotten,’ said Francis of Lorraine passionately, jumping up. Striding to where Lymond was seated he put his two hands white-wristed on the table and bent, the pale hair under the velvet bonnet falling flat over his flushed brow. ‘If you are a man of no principle, leave us. If you are a man of no faith, abandon us. If you revere the infidel, go to him. But listen to this. The Turkish fleet is at sea. A hundred and twelve royal galleys, two galleasses, thirty flutes and more brigantines and troop ships under Sinan Pasha with Dragut, Salah Rais and twelve thousand men have left Constantinople and are sailing for Malta. The Chevalier de Villegagnon is leaving tonight for the island to warn the Grand Master. Signor Strozzi remains until there is a general call to arms, in case of attack by the Emperor on France. We wish to ask you, as a soldier and a man versed in ships, who has no national bias to affect his judgement and standing, to go with M. de Villegagnon and stir the Grand Master to Malta’s defence.’
‘Against,’ said Lymond drily, ‘Allâh’s Deputy on Earth?’
The boy