The Unicorn Hunt - Dorothy Dunnett [355]
The Senate expressed its disappointment at this move by the Bank at a juncture so important to the welfare of all those present, and was only partly reconciled by the news that the way was not closed (were the money to be returned to the Bank), for a grant to be made to the alliance at a later date.
There was some vigorous discussion, and resolutions were taken which did not, however, change M. de Fleury’s attitude or affect the final result. Impasse being reached, the Senate assembled a final accounting of the aid the alliance was being currently promised, presented it to the Envoys of the lord Uzum Hasan, and received their somewhat modified gratitude. In a buzz of angry conversation, the meeting broke up.
Outside: ‘I regret,’ said the lord Hadji Mehmet. ‘You have, of course, a duty to Burgundy. Your worth as a merchant and an ally has been known to the prince Uzum Hasan, and he cannot but feel severe disappointment. There may, perhaps, be other occasions when your freedom is less circumscribed. The prince would like to see you in Tabriz. He will welcome meantime what help you have been able to give.’
They were speaking in Turcoman Arabic, but could not be sure of privacy even then. In any case, they were practised, Mehmet and Nicholas de Fleury, in communicating with their eyes. Nicholas said, ‘If they are wise, Venice will appoint someone of worth. And perhaps, one day, I may come.’
Marco Corner, father of the Queen of Cyprus, was less gracious. ‘I am afraid, Ser Niccolò, that you will look in vain for your concessions on the Tyrolean border – or may not find them quite what you hoped.’ He was flushed.
‘That depends,’ Nicholas said, ‘on what success my lords the Envoys have with the Holy Father in Rome. I gather the Patriarch of Antioch is to join them there. You may find me, in the end, as generous as the Order with the possessions of others.’
Tobias Lomellini, Genoese Treasurer of the Order, walked with him to the wharf. ‘I cannot begin to describe my disgust. On a caprice, you have reversed all we talked of on Rhodes. You have betrayed the Religion and, of course, the offer made by the Patriarch is withdrawn.’
‘You stole my money,’ said Nicholas. ‘I was going to forgive you, but my company showed me I was wrong. What powers do you possess to withdraw the Patriarch’s offer?’
‘The fullest powers,’ said the Genoese. ‘I have the papers of authority, should you doubt me. A note of my decision will be prepared for your wife, who I believe was involved. She can obtain it from any clerk of the Order. Or I shall present it to her at the banquet. I suppose, in spite of everything, the Signoria has summoned you to the official banquet?’
‘I’m on the list,’ Nicholas said. ‘And I do lend them large sums of money.’ The gold from the Ghost, he imagined, would long since have been melted into bullion. Perhaps it had already gone. At the very least, the Knights would now quietly use it to buy what they needed, no doubt some of it from him. But they were answerable at law for what they had done. However worthy the cause, they had no right to support it by piracy. Although of course, the litigation would take years. Ochoa was in their power. He would say whatever they told him.
‘And your lady wife will be there?’ Lomellini repeated.
‘Nothing would please her better,’ Nicholas said. ‘If she arrives in time.’
The banquet for the Persian Envoys was one of the better ones, and Julius enjoyed it. Calling above the roar of conversation he said to Tobie, ‘I thought his wife was going to be here?’ And, observing Nicholas had overheard: ‘The Sersanders girl said Gelis was going to be here? When are you going to tell her you’re setting up family life in Bruges, and not Persia?’
‘You’ve got it all wrong,’ Nicholas said. ‘I’d practically settled on Innsbruck. No, she isn’t here. She may come later.’
‘You’d think she would enjoy all this,’ Julius said. ‘And the child. Isn’t she bringing the child? I thought she must be, because Margot isn’t here. Poor Gregorio. He hates it so when Margot isn’t here.’
‘I don’t suppose for a moment