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.“There is nothing impious in studying the laws of the knowable universe.”“Theologians teach otherwise,” his brother shot back.“The church fathers cling to hopelessly outdated theories.When they preach that demons of the air create thunder and lightning, they ignore the evidence of electrical sparks jumping from cloud to cloud.When they speak of miracles effecting—”“All that isn’t worth a soldo.” The senator was adamant.“I’m bleeding our family coffers dry to see you elected head of the Church, not president of some chin-wagging scientific society.” He stabbed his finger through the air.“You know as well as I do, Venice is on her last legs.Trade has nearly perished for lack of custom, and our neighbors are peddling their treasures from palaces that are crumbling at the foundation.The majority of common citizens exist only by grace of the public dole.A Venetian papacy could turn all that around, send wealth flowing back to our city.” He spread his arms wide.“Now, who do you suppose would be first in line to receive that silver and gold?”The cardinal maintained a sullen silence.The senator swiveled his head toward Abate Lenci.“Tell me who.”“The house of Montorio, Zio.”“Exactly.” The senator turned back to his brother.“And you would risk this so you can muddle about with your toys? It’s outright rebellion against your family and your government.I won’t allow it.In fact, I absolutely forbid you to read, discuss, or perform any more natural philosophy under this roof.”“You’re taking the journals, too? What about my notes?” The cardinal half rose from his seat, stretching a hand toward a footman with a bundle of stained, tattered notebooks under each arm.“Please Antonio, those are written in my own hand, with great labor.”In reply, the senator grabbed one of the books, crossed the room, and threw it in the fire.The thin papers caught flame and curled into ash almost immediately.Cardinal Montorio sank down and pressed his hands to his mouth.His eyes had widened to tea saucers.A whispery whine escaped his lattice of fingers: “I could be more careful—set up a workroom outside of the palazzo, in a warehouse somewhere—do my experimentations in absolute secrecy.”His brother braced his hands on the firemantel and stared down at the creeping ashes.He shook his head.“Your experimentations are over, Stefano.”“But Antonio—I deserve a tiny place of my own—I do—and no one would be the wiser.”The senator moved to tower over the cardinal.“You are spouting nonsense and you know it.Secrecy doesn’t exist in Rome.”I had to raise my eyebrows at that and saw Lenci do the same.Cardinal Montorio dropped his hands, gripped the edges of his stool, and raised his chin.His eyes narrowed to slits.“You’ll be sorry, brother.” His voice was husky with rage.“You may have won today, but there are other battles to come.”Senator Montorio snorted.He consulted a watch on a short, heavy chain and seemed to notice me for the first time.Waving a hand, he moved toward the corridor.“Come with me, Tito.I’ll take your report elsewhere.”I drew a deep breath and started after him.Lenci followed, but halted when Senator Montorio commanded, “See that your uncle pulls himself together.I’ll need him later—in good form and wearing a fresh cassock.”The senator ushered me to a study a few yards away.The room contained a large globe in a bronze stand, a square table, and several comfortable chairs.The senator didn’t sit, so neither did I.He paused and traced his finger over the globe’s brown continents and blue seas.Was he following one of his company’s spice routes? Or contemplating how many of the world’s Catholics would come under Stefano’s domain if he managed to get the reluctant cardinal elected?After a long moment, the senator raised his gaze to glower at me.His fingers dove into his embroidered waistcoat and produced a small object which he displayed at arm’s length.“Do you see what this is?”I stepped closer.He held a steel key with a heavy shank and simple looped head.“It seems to be a key, Excellency.”“Not just any key—it opens the lock of your brother’s cell.What information do you have to trade for it?”I sighed.“I have information, but I’m afraid you won’t find it pleasing.”“Proceed.”“I’ve observed Cardinal Fabiani closely, hovering near as he talked with influential guests and sifting every scrap of conversation or unguarded musing for—”“Yes, yes.I know how you gain your information.What have you found out?”I attempted to keep my voice steady, but a note of wild desperation crept into my answer.“I’m sorry, but…Cardinal Fabiani intends to throw his votes to Di Noce.I find it highly unlikely that he will change his mind in the next few days.”Montorio studied me, calmly nodding.“That tallies with what others have reported.For some reason, our old friend Lorenzo Fabiani doesn’t trust us to keep our bargain.”“At least your spies agree,” I said, wondering if I had unknowingly stumbled over any of them and if they had managed to penetrate Pompetti’s Academy of Italia.Continuing to nod absently, the senator turned his attention back to the globe.He gave it a spin and let it whirl beneath his brushing forefinger.His thumb and other fingers enclosed the key to Alessandro’s cell in a tight grasp.I searched the senator’s downcast profile.What else could the man want from me? I’d done as he commanded, and every cardinal that was able to make the journey to Rome would soon go into conclave.Yet I sensed that Antonio Montorio wasn’t finished with me.I decided to test that notion.“When will Alessandro be released?” I asked.He looked up with a sardonic smile.“When Stefano Montorio sits on St.Peter’s throne.”I felt as if a mule had just kicked me in the stomach.“What do you mean? I’ve fulfilled my part of this forced bargain.It’s not my fault that Fabiani has decided to back Di Noce [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]