The Glassblower of Murano - Marina Fiorato [66]
Leonora's head spun, but her nausea was gone in the hope that now consumed her. `So Corradino would not have left, for fear of his daughter's safety.'
'No,' said the Professore. `That is not what I meant. The Ten knew nothing of the child, for she was secreted in the Pieta by her grandfather and no one knew who had fathered her. Angelina never told the name of her seducer, and took the secret to her grave. I merely meant that I thought it unlikely that Corradino would have left Venice while Leonora lived.Visits to a secret daughter in the Pieta would be risky, but not impossible. And I imagine the temptation would be very hard to resist.'
Leonora was silent, digesting this.
So the treachery story could still be true, if unlikely. And what of this new character, the lost girl with my name that had no family but the Pieta and only music for her friend. At least she found love in the end.
She asked, `how would we find out more? Can we ever know for sure if Corradino left Venice?'
`You could try the large library in San Marco - the Sansoviniana - they have guild records and also records of births and death, going back centuries. But I have told you all I know of Corradino's history, and this is the account that I gave Elinor' The Professore stood to stretch his bad leg. `My only other suggestion would be to try to find something out from the French end. I have some contacts at the Sorbonne who could help you.'
Leonora took his cue and stood. `May I see you again? And will you contact me if you think of anything more?'
`Of course. And you may mention my name for a reference in the rare book collections of the Sansoviniana.'
I remember my first day here, when they would barely let me through the front door of the Sansoviniana. Now I am to be admitted to the inner sanctum.
The Professore moved to his desk to write down numbers and the names of various document collections that might be helpful. Leonora scribbled down her phone numbers and as the papers were exchanged Padovani wondered if Leonora was actually going to leave without asking of that other Manin, but at last she said: `And my father? Did you know him?'
The Professore shook his head, with sympathy in his eyes. `As is the manner of young women in love, Elinor saw little of her friends and kept Bruno to herself. I only heard of his death through the local news.'
At the mention of her father's name in this context, Leonora felt a wave of shame that she had not bothered to enquire after him before, so consumed was she with Corradino.
`Is there any family still in Venice?
`I don't know. Elinor mentioned that Bruno's parents lived in Verona, but they died long since.'
Leonora knew of this but had not contemplated the loss before - of that immediate family that most take for granted; Grandparents. They had gone - without any of the usual meetings, knitted jumpers, chocolate bars, holiday outings. She collected herself - she knew that she must leave the Professore, and was anxious to begin her researches of the documents he had suggested, but felt she had a thousand more questions.
As she moved to the door, with murmurs of thanks and promises to return, the Professore embraced Leonora warmly. Holding her arms he said, `one more thing. Tomorrow is the feast of All Souls, the Festa dei Morte, when the people ofVenice honour their dead. If you would see your father, he is buried on San Michele. Perhaps you will visit him. He too should be mourned!
Leonora felt reproach, but also affection.
I know I should go and see his grave. We should meet at last.
I'll ask Alessandro to come too.
She moved into the corridor and made to walk towards the stairs. The Professore called, `Leonora!'
She turned. The old man looked directly at her, and said softly, `There are some things an old man can see that a young man can't. Look