Scales of Gold - Dorothy Dunnett [124]
Clutching his points and his bandage, Nicholas peered. He said, ‘What a pity. Is there a lot more of the same?’
‘Bales and bales,’ Mistress Bel said. ‘All set out ready to lift.’
‘May I see?’ said the factor.
Nicholas blinked. ‘It’s for Signor Raffaelo to say.’
Raffaelo Doria began to speak and broke off. It was Michael Crackbene who placed his bulk between the article and the agent and responded heartily. ‘And show the signor our buying mistakes? He would never trust us again.’
‘But perhaps,’ Nicholas said, ‘there are other bales, elsewhere stored, which would prove to have cloth better chosen?’ He raised the parcel and gave it to Diniz, who nearly dropped it.
‘You insist?’ said Raffaelo Doria.
‘If you want the pepper,’ said Nicholas. ‘The King could hardly be expected to accept unwelcome goods in exchange. And one Portuguese ship would share the poor reputation of the other. Come. Have the cloth brought up on deck and give us all the pleasure of seeing it.’ He paused. ‘Unless there is anything else to discuss?’
The factor looked up from the lady who was trying to feed him a locust bean. ‘You are not, then, transferring the gold to the Fortado?’
‘No,’ said Raffaelo Doria. ‘No, we are not. Or not, at least, at the moment.’
*
Returned to the San Niccolò that evening, they wept.
‘Doria’s face!’ Diniz cried.
‘The King’s face!’ Mistress Bel moaned. ‘When he found the bales full of cloth and no guns!’
‘And we have one excellent new handgun inside the wicker,’ said Nicholas. ‘It was your doing, all of you. Diniz knew the Fortado was carrying arms when she was turned back from Ceuta. Mistress Bel –’
‘Oh, Bel, laddie,’ she said. ‘Life’s going to be too short for titles.’
‘– Bel trampled over decorum and got herself down below, to verify they were there, and Doria was clearly going to sell them. Bel, you can unwind my points as well as my bandage any day. And the demoiselle –’
‘Mistress Gelis,’ said Gelis.
‘That’s daft,’ said Bel shortly.
The mind of Diniz floated far above bickering. ‘Gelis was wonderful,’ Diniz said. ‘The lies she told about the Ghost, and about Funchal, and how we all boarded the Niccolò. And she kissed the King.’
‘It was rather hard to avoid it,’ said Gelis. ‘I also had an offer from two of the ladies. My favourite moment – my own favourite moment was when the King hove in sight. Were they real spectacles?’
‘Do you mean it?’ said Nicholas. ‘How he managed ten inseminations in two years would be a mystery, unless you had seen what we’ve seen of his wives.’
Gelis said, ‘I notice you didn’t sell them any spectacles. Nicholas –’
‘Claes,’ he said. And then, ‘Listen. That will be Jorge and Godscalc and Loppe.’ And raising his voice, ‘Melchiorre?’
The curtain drew back. ‘They are coming,’ said the second mate in Florentine Italian. ‘Messer Niccolò, it is a triumph.’
‘Perhaps,’ Nicholas said. ‘Shall we go and welcome them? Bel?’
The plump woman looked up at him. ‘You evil-inclined man, what are you doing?’
‘Welcoming my confessor,’ said Nicholas; and went to the side.
Diniz followed. Now the sun sank low behind them, and its Oriental light lay on the water and the drowsing fowl and the wicker cabins that dotted the shore, and tinged the reedy islands with the colour of Persian brick. The San Niccolò’s boats, drawing behind them the rose-tinged arrows of their wake, made their way slowly towards the mother ship, bringing with them Godscalc and Loppe, the sailing-master and his mate, and the oarsmen who had set out with them that morning. What else the boats contained could not be seen.
Diniz said, ‘Nicholas? A boat from the Fortado.’
‘Of course,’ Nicholas said; and waited.
Their own two boats arrived first, and disgorged their men, and were made secure while Nicholas stood at the head of the companionway and watched, hardly greeting his priest or his master or Loppe, except with a nod. Then, fast on their heels,