Scales of Gold - Dorothy Dunnett [120]
‘It was the shellfish,’ said Gelis. ‘I don’t know where …’
‘I shall get someone to take her,’ said Raffaelo Doria. ‘Hey, Tati! Gahu!’
The curtain of the poop cabin stirred, and a black Jalofo cherub in a white cotton chemise stood before them, hands modestly folded. Diniz, staring woodenly, identified it as a girl aged about twelve. The commander said, ‘Dafa fun ope. Biir day metti.’ And to Gelis, ‘Tati will take her below. There is no need for you to leave us.’ And as the child led Bel away – ‘But to return to what we were saying. Now I see you, I must confess that I would take you for the twin of the man who fired at our sails. Not knowing Ser Niccolò, I cannot say the same of him until I meet him. But Crackbene is amazingly sure.’
‘Then he was mistaken,’ said Gelis van Borselen, looking amused. ‘I am afraid I must tell you that both Diniz and Ser Niccolò sailed with me all the way from Funchal.’
‘On the San Niccolò?’
‘What else?’ said Gelis, transferring the smile to Mick Crackbene. She looked pretty. Diniz felt as thunderstruck as Michael Crackbene.
‘And yet you and Mistress Bel went ashore at Funchal?’ It was the commander again.
‘How interested you have been in our movements. Yes, we went ashore. We followed Senhor Diniz to his plantation, and after he had talked to his factor, we rejoined the San Niccolò at Câmara de Lobos. Signor Doria, are you accusing us of something? I believed we were here as your guests.’
Raffaelo Doria smiled. He had square enamels sewn round the cuff of his hat, which matched the shape of his teeth and his fingertips; there were rings on his fingers. He said, ‘How could I accuse any being so utterly captivating? In any case, I should require a little more proof. A personal tour, for example, of the Ghost, once the Doria.’
He spoke still to Gelis, and Diniz was happy to let him. If he thought Gelis the soft mark, all the better. Gelis said, ‘I still don’t see the relevance. I’ve told you she has nothing to do with us. So far as I’m concerned, you can search her all you like if you find her.’
‘Oh, but we have found her,’ Raffaelo Doria exclaimed. ‘Did I not mention it? She is sitting sweetly just up the coast, under the impression, like the ostrich, that none can see her. And I would take a very large wager that our Ser Niccolò is with her at this moment, hiding also.’
‘You’re very sure,’ Gelis said. She looked annoyed.
‘More than sure,’ said the commander cheerfully. He pulled off a ring. ‘Sure enough to wager this ruby. Senhor Diniz, will you match me with a trinket?’ Crackbene laughed.
Diniz said, ‘I don’t want your ring. In any case, don’t mention gambling. You speak to Gelis van Borselen, the terror of Flanders.’
‘Really? Demoiselle? Then you will accept my little wager?’
‘If you insist.’ She had pearls in her hair worth ten times the cost of his ring. She unwound them and her hair, pale as straw, fell to her shoulders. She said, ‘I need a servant. Those against your little Tati.’
He laughed, ‘Really, demoiselle!’
‘Really,’ she said. ‘If you are right, you are running no danger.’
‘Then of course I accept,’ he said. But his eyes were not smiling, either then or when the child climbed back on deck, leading Bel of Cuthilgurdy, her arms laden.
‘See what I’ve got!’ shrieked Mistress Bel. ‘Man, ye’ve a very large cargo: have ye not sold anything yet? Well, ye have now. And I paid for it, the lassie will tell ye. See, Gelis. Four great lengths of silk and wool cloth. A tin pan I was needing, and a wee puckle sugar. And look at what’s inside this matting – what are your pearls doing off?’
Gelis looked up. ‘They think Ser Niccolò is on the Ghost. I’ve told them he isn’t,’ she said.
Bel of Cuthilgurdy switched her gaze to Raffaelo Doria. It was reproachful. She said, ‘Ye’ve never accepted a wager! She’ll bankrupt you. Ye havena seen her between decks with the strokes-men. Is that someone coming out from the river?’
‘Excuse me,’ said the commander, and rose. The comito’s voice called from the rail. Fore and aft, the rails filled with seamen. Twenty-two,