The Family - Mario Puzo [153]
The dinner was a sumptuous feast with all manner of delicacies, and an array of large carafes of wine added to the gaiety and good humor of the guests.
When the plates had been cleared by the servants, Alexander’s son Jofre suddenly rose unsteadily and raised his goblet in a toast. “As a gift from my family in Naples, and in honor of my new family, the d’Este, a very special entertainment has been arranged . . . something not seen in Rome for many years.”
Alexander and Cesare were surprised at this announcement, and embarrassed at Jofre’s crude presumption in referring to his “new family.” They wondered, with great anxiety, what he had in store for them, as the guests looked around in anticipation.
The great carved wooden doors swung open, and four footmen entered the room. Without a word, they scattered golden chestnuts across the floor in the center of the room. “My God,” Cesare thought, looking toward his father. In a sudden flash of horror, he realized what was about to happen. He called to his brother, “Jofre! Don’t do this,” but it was already too late.
To the sound of trumpets, Jofre opened another door and let in a procession of twenty naked courtesans, their dark hair loose, their soft skin oiled and perfumed. Each had a small silk purse dangling from a thong around her waist.
Jofre was loud, giddy with wine, as he continued. “What you see on the floor before you are chestnuts of pure gold. And these lovely ladies will be pleased to bend over so that you may see them from a different angle. This will be a new treat . . . at least for some of you.”
The guests roared with laughter. But both Cesare and Alexander tried to stop the lewd display before too much damage had been done.
Jofre, ignoring the signals being given by his father and brother, continued, “You gentlemen may mount these mares any time you like. Mind you, you must mount standing up from the rear. And for each successful mount, your lady may pick one golden chestnut from the floor and place it in her purse. It goes without saying that the ladies may keep the chestnuts they gather as gifts for the entertainment they have provided.”
The courtesans began to bend over and wiggle their naked asses sensuously at the male diners.
Ercole d’Este, shocked by the vulgar display, grew pale in astonishment.
Yet, one by one, the noblemen of Rome began to stand and drift away from the tables, moving toward the beckoning, bending courtesans. Some, though they didn’t mount, grabbed lustily at the mounds of courtesan flesh.
In his youth Alexander had enjoyed such events, but now he was mortified, aware that on this occasion it was grotesquely out of place. And he was certain that it was meant to be, for he understood the ill reflection on his family’s sophistication—and judgment—this represented.
The Pope approached Ercole d’Este and tried vainly to apologize. But Ercole, shaking his head, told himself that if the proxy wedding had not already taken place, he would cancel the match and take his chances with the French and with Cesare’s armies—ducats or no ducats. Since he had already banked the gold, now he simply left the room, muttering “Borgia peasants.”
Later that night, Cesare received news that disturbed him even more. The body of Astorre Manfredi had been found floating in the Tiber. Cesare had promised him safe conduct after the fall of Faenza, and this news would make it seem to many as if he had broken his word. Cesare knew that once again he would be suspected. There were those who would believe that he had killed once more: with Michelotto, Cesare certainly had the means. But who would do this? And why?
Two days later, upstairs in the room called the Pappagallo, the Pope bid his daughter good-bye. She was sad to be leaving her father, despite all the trouble he’d caused. The Pope himself attempted to appear more jovial than he felt, for he would sorely miss this daughter. “If you are ever