The Unicorn Hunt - Dorothy Dunnett [101]
He had forgotten how numerate Nicholas de Fleury was. Some of the questions, which descended like pricks of a measuring-compass whenever Gregorio paused, were answered by Diniz, flushed but ready; some by the others. Debate was allowed, if compressed. Three times, their interlocutor let them see he was out of temper.
The first time, Gregorio had presented the situation in Egypt and Syria, where the Bank’s interests were controlled from the Venetian trading station at Alexandria. Their factor there was John le Grant, engineer and shipmaster. Nicholas had sent to have him recalled.
‘And he is on his way home?’ Nicholas said.
‘With the Middle Sea about to go up in flames? I know you wanted it,’ Gregorio said, ‘but we might lose a ship, or he might never get back to Egypt, or he might lose the goodwill of this Sultan. I did pass on your order, but he sent to explain why he’s staying.’ He paused. ‘He’s right, I’m sure. You have to know the situation.’
‘And you think I don’t know the situation?’ Nicholas said. His voice had not changed. He said, ‘Whom did you send with the letter?’
‘A Florentine captain. One of our men took it to Pisa.’ He felt Tobie move.
Nicholas said, ‘When this meeting is finished, I shall write you another, and you will send it south today. Four of my own men-at-arms will go with it. The situation will then be conducive to John le Grant obeying my orders, whether his opinion differs from mine or not. Perhaps you would bear that in mind for another time.’
‘You will lose him,’ said Godscalc. It was the first time he had spoken.
‘Is he mine now?’ Nicholas said; and dismissed the subject.
After that, Gregorio trod very carefully. But it was impossible to avoid mentioning the army and Captain Astorre, and what they had faced, compelled to fight for Burgundy in Liège.
Nicholas listened. ‘He is a mercenary,’ he said. ‘He has chosen to fight other men’s wars regardless of principle. Why balk now?’
‘He thinks of Bruges as his town,’ Gregorio said. ‘A place with its own freedoms. He saw Liège as another such, maybe. Or perhaps it was just the treachery. The French were tricked into abetting the massacre. Even the Archers were sickened. You must have heard of it.’
‘Yes, I heard of it,’ Nicholas said. ‘So, like John le Grant, Astorre would prefer to pick his own sphere of action? Is this a request to annul his contract with the Charetty company?’
‘It is a request to see you,’ Gregorio said. ‘He is in camp at St Omer. It is not a matter of money. He will serve you anywhere else you care to send him.’ Again, he paused. ‘Venice is calling for mercenaries. The Senate has written to you twice.’
‘To help when the Middle Sea goes up in flames. Now I remember. You have experienced,’ Nicholas said, ‘a certain amount of confusion, haven’t you, while I have been away? It all seems perfectly simple. You should have sent Astorre to manage ships and keep books in Alexandria, and brought back John le Grant to lead the Burgundian army. What other dissatisfied friends do we have? Tobie?’
The doctor finished reflectively blowing his nose. He said, ‘I agree with Astorre. If you want him to stay, you’ll have to invent a whole new philosophy.’
‘And you?’ Nicholas said. Julius was smiling. Gregorio realised that this must be nothing new: that Nicholas had behaved in this way also in Scotland.
Tobie said, ‘I like unwinding guts from trees. I don’t need to stay with him or you.’ It meant, Gregorio knew, that he intended to stay beside Godscalc, but he didn’t suppose Nicholas realised it.
Nicholas said, ‘When did I ever ask it? I thought you were doing something constructive with books, that is all. No doubt Astorre can make up his own mind.’
‘You won’t go to St Omer?’ Diniz said. Below his dark skin he had paled. He said, ‘Nicholas, I wouldn’t do what Astorre and the rest had to do. Or I wouldn’t promise anyone that I would do it twice.’
Nicholas gazed at