Gemini - Dorothy Dunnett [201]
Father Ludovico had been watching him. ‘Ah, you are wondering if I have reached the age of confessions, excuses. Am I a Bessarion, about to enfold you to my bosom and whisper advice? No, I am not, although I do not say ignore what he told you. I have little to say to you, except this. If you wish, as I see you do, the mindless life of a comfortable paterfamilias, you could not do better than return to banking in Venice. You will die rich, and you might be of some service to me in the meantime. And your man Julius, so dismissive of Germany, might enjoy living in Scotland in your place.’
Nicholas said, ‘Is that why Gregorio is in Bruges?’
The heavy face stirred. ‘He hasn’t mentioned it yet? I thought not. A sink of sentiment. Never rely on a man deeply in thrall to his wife. They exchange genders. Yes, there is an opportunity in Venice. Take it. Or stay in your puddle.’
Nicholas said, ‘Let me guess. Josaphat Barbaro is back.’
‘You are right.’ The Patriarch looked complacent. ‘The Venetian envoy to the late Uzum Hasan. Have all the Persian’s sons killed each other? I cannot remember. And other friends in Venice, of course. Caterino Zeno and Violante his wife, and her charming footloose son Nerio, whom the charlatan Andreas, I hear, once befriended in Bruges. The new Doge, Mocenigo’s brother. And the Cypriots.’
Nicholas said, ‘I thought that was a pity. That Zacco’s family died.’
The tangled black brows rose. ‘Died? You could visit them. They are all living save Charla, the daughter. In the custody of Venice, and never to go back to Cyprus, but alive. Who told you otherwise?’
Moriz’s face was curious, waiting. ‘It doesn’t matter,’ Nicholas said.
The Patriarch sighed. ‘I see that it does. I see you are another Gregorio, save that I thought your wife was more of a man. You will stay in Scotland. Or you might settle in France. I wish you more luck than I had in March.’
Nicholas said, ‘Julius would prefer Venice to Scotland or Germany or France.’ The Patriarch knew Julius of old. Indeed, he had known him in his wilder days with Bessarion in Bologna, and had denounced him to the Medici. Nicholas had long since realised that, with the Medici vanished from Constantinople and Bruges and weakened in Florence, the Patriarch was looking for other observers in the East. Once, Nicholas had proposed to set Julius up in Novgorod, as proprietor of the Banco Niccolò-Giulio, but Julius would not go there alone.
He added, ‘And speaking of Julius. The death of his wife was perhaps a shock? And of Acciajuoli. Neither survived Moscow by very long.’
‘I heard,’ said the Patriarch. ‘In any case, they both would have ended, in my view, with a stake through the heart, the woman especially. The Florentine had a romantic brand of mysticism which he paraded rather too much, that was all. Have you been divining?’
‘No. Yes,’ Nicholas said.
‘I heard. I thought Father Moriz here weaned you away from it. And did it bring you profit and delight? No. Well, don’t blame me for disturbing your illusion of privacy. Others will do more to you, and worse, if you persist. Returning to Julius and Venice. Julius would go anywhere if you made him a prince. He would stay in Germany.’
Moriz said loudly, ‘No one has that kind of money.’ He had become increasingly restless. The German and the Italian had crossed swords before. It had amused the Duchess in the Tyrol.
Nicholas said, ‘And Gregorio is settled in Venice. No, Patriarch. I am useless to you.’
‘That’s what I thought,’ said Father Ludovico with passing discontent. ‘That is, you cannot see beyond the mattress, I am told, at the moment. When your caul is removed,