The Unicorn Hunt - Dorothy Dunnett [102]
Diniz said, ‘Duke Charles is not like Urbino. He is a ruthless man, and less able by far than his father. There are other wars.’
Nicholas said, ‘But I want Astorre fighting for Burgundy. If I can, I shall go and see him. So, what next? The Vatachino?’
‘Intensifying their competition, but we are watching them,’ Gregorio said, with more confidence. Opposition, even from their most powerful rival, had never done more than stimulate Nicholas. He added, ‘They’ve increased their agents, as we have, and added a third senior partner based, we think, in Genoa. They’ve also resorted to spoiling tactics: rumours that you’re going to close down and retire; that you came back with less gold than you say; even that you bought some gold which later vanished.’
‘Someone knows that we lost what the first roundship carried,’ Nicholas said. ‘That’s interesting. It may even mean the Vatachino themselves were the pirates. It sounds, anyway, as if they’re afraid of us.’
‘I think the Vatachino bribed the crew and stole the gold,’ Diniz said. ‘You said you wanted to find it. We haven’t tried very hard. I think we should get one of these men and beat the truth out of him. They tried to buy over Gregorio.’
‘And John le Grant,’ said Gregorio dryly.
Nicholas surveyed him. ‘You think his resistance to bribery deserves more than a beakful of preen-oil? Of course he stayed. He doesn’t like the Vatachino. He likes the Bank, and its ships, and his freedom to think up new toys. Of course you stayed; you have Margot to think of. Of the rest of you, Julius wouldn’t leave, Godscalc couldn’t, and Diniz is far too well off as he is. The Bank is thus protected against major defectors, and the other kind don’t have access to ledgers.’
‘Congratulations,’ said Tobie. ‘An eloquent dissertation on company loyalty. So we have the Vatachino sized up. What about our other competitors? Tell us about Simon de St Pol of Kilmirren, whose hand you shook so honestly here in the summer. Now we’ve got him and his father swearing they’ll ruin the Bank. I’m a shareholder, and I want to know why.’
Gregorio said, ‘Is the reason important? We know Simon’s temper and it has not been – forgive me, Nicholas – the easiest of times, either, for a man separated from his wife. All we need to know is that the Bank is none the worse for what has happened, and Julius has assured me of that. There is nothing that Kilmirren can do to harm us in Scotland, from what I have heard.’
‘And de Ribérac?’ Tobie said. ‘He’s in Bruges. For God’s sake, his daughter Lucia is dead, and it won’t take him long to hear about your tussle with Simon – dockside gossip will spread it. Maybe the Bank is safe from Kilmirren the Younger, but the old man has influence.’
‘He is in Bruges?’ Nicholas said. He looked at Gregorio.
‘Gregorio didn’t know,’ Tobie said. ‘I found out today. He and the Vatachino are at one another’s hearts and livers, I’m happy to tell you.’
‘Tobie told me,’ said Diniz. ‘I shall have to go to de Ribérac. I’m his grandson. I thought – I hoped –’
‘That I would go with you,’ said Nicholas.
‘You could tell him how it happened,’ Julius said. ‘His other brat of a grandson tried to kill you, and Lucia got herself drowned coming to beg you not to give Henry away. I’m sorry, Diniz, but that was what happened. And that’s why you needn’t be troubled about what Simon or his father can do to the Bank of Niccolò. I was there. I saw what Henry did. He walked up to Nicholas and pushed a knife into him up to the hilt. He meant to kill him all right.’
‘He was spoiled,’ Diniz said. He bit his lip. He said, ‘Gregorio told us. He didn’t say why.’
‘A good enough reason for a child,’ Nicholas said. ‘Someone insulted his father.’
‘You?’ said Diniz. Tobie opened his mouth and then closed it, glancing at Godscalc.
‘Did I insult him? No. It was another child, the King’s brother. Henry lost his head in the lists and tried to deprive the poor prince of his eyes. He didn’t like being stopped.’
Godscalc said, ‘That was all? When you tried to restrain him, the child turned his attack upon you? And you