It was on the point of my tongue to tell Hutchinson all that had passed in Florence on the previous day, but I thought it useless to trouble him with what seemed but vague suspicions.
Why does he want to see me? I inquired.
Oh, he has got something or other to sell you, I suppose, was the consuls reply. Somehow, Kennedy, I dont like the old fellow. Whether its his ugliness, his deformity, or his manner, I cant tell; only, I instinctively dislike him and more than ever when I met him just now.
Why?
Well, to me his manner was as though he expected to hear some grave news regarding you.
Grave news? I echoed. Then it occurred to me that the old hunchback was, of course, privy to the mysterious evil following the possession of the Book of Arnoldus.
What grave news did he expect?
How do I know, my dear fellow? These Italians, and especially men of his class, are so subtle and cunning that you can never get at the bottom of their motives.
But Ive always given Graniani his price with a little bargaining, of course. Why, Ive paid him hundreds of francs. You recollect what I paid for that miniature of the missing dauphin of France?
But you obtained a gem, even though you had to pay heavily for it, was my friends answer. If it had been in old Confessinis hands youd have had to pay double, or he would have sent it to London.
I know that, I laughed. Graniani has had some good things now and then, and Ive been a good customer; therefore I cant see why he should entertain any hostile thought towards me.
As Ive already said, you never know the Italian character. The man who is your best friend today will be your worst enemy tomorrow. Thats what makes life so insecure here and affrays with the knife so frequent. All I can say is that I noticed about the old scoundrel a distinct expectation to hear bad news of you, and I judged from his manner that he was disappointed when I told him that for aught I knew you were all right. If I were you I wouldnt have any more dealings with him. Now youre leaving Antignano, cut him. He has served your purpose well, and you cant afford to be mixed up in any quarrel with a man of his stamp.
Yes, I will, I answered. I dont like him myself. Of late he has been far from straight.
And of late, it seems, he has been making secret inquiries of one of the Italian clerks here about your antecedents in England.
Whatever for? How can my antecedents concern him?
Ah, thats the point, my dear Kennedy. Hes forming some ingenious plot or other; therefore we must be on the alert. When a man bribes one of the clerks to obtain information about an Englishmans past, his parentage, and all the rest of it, theres something devilish suspicious about it.
I should think so! I wonder what the old scoundrel is up to?
Some blackmailing business or other, most probably. If so, act with discretion, and well have a chat with the chief of police. The present questore is terribly down on blackmailers.
But what can be the motive?
Thats more than either of us can tell. We must watch and form our own conclusions, was the consuls reply, leaning back in his white linen suit and stretching his arms above his head. You see now, he added, why I am in favour of your leaving Tuscany without delay.
Yes, I see. But theres some mystery about old Graniani, and we ought to clear it up.
Why should we trouble to do so? he asked.
I had told him nothing about the incident which had occurred to arouse my suspicions while I was waiting for the fat prior of San Sisto; therefore, in a few words I briefly recounted what I had witnessed.
Strange? he exclaimed. Remarkably strange! We must watch him, Kennedy. It almost looks as if, for some mysterious reason, he means mischief.
We agreed as to this, and then fell to discussing the best means by which I might get rid of my house and have my collection of antiques packed for transmission to England.
Soon after noon I returned home to luncheon, and in crossing the Piazza Vittorio Emanuelle to take the electric tram my eyes caught a glimpse of a neat female figure in black, which struck me as strangely similar to that of the dark-eyed woman who had been closeted with the fat prior in Florence on the previous day. My first impulse was to turn and follow her, but not being sufficiently certain of her identity, I stepped upon the tram, although sorely puzzled. Was she in Leghorn for some secret purpose? I wondered. Somehow I felt convinced it was she.
On my arrival home, however, my suspicion became more than ever aroused, for I found old Nello in a terrible state of anxiety. On getting up he had discovered that my bed had not been slept in, and that I was absent. Being Italian, he feared that some disgrazia had happened to me.
Then, when I assured him that I had merely been out for a long walk instead of sleeping, he said:
The hunchback antique-dealer is awaiting you, signore. He says it is most important that he should see you, so I have shown him upstairs to the study.
His announcement took me aback. The old scoundrel was the last visitor I expected. Nevertheless, I drew a long breath to steady my nerves, and with calm resolution mounted the stairs.
Chapter Six
The Opening of the Book
Scusi, signore! exclaimed the ugly, disreputable-looking old man, holding his battered straw hat behind him, and bowing with as much studied grace as his deformity would allow. The Tuscan, always the essence of politeness, is a marvellous diplomatist. I regret to disturb the signore, he went on in his soft, musical speech; but I was anxious to know if he met yesterday in Florence the prior of San Sisto?
I did, I replied, amused at his ingenious attempt to affect ignorance of our meeting.
And did you make any purchases?
I bought one book a rare Arnoldus.
In manuscript?
Yes.
Bound in original oak boards, with an old brass clasp eh? he inquired, with a queer smile about the corners of his mouth. May I be permitted to see it?
His demand aroused my suspicions at once. It was evident that the prior had regretted having sold it to me, and had sent his agent to endeavour to get it back at any cost. Therefore, knowing the unscrupulous ways of some Italians in a cosmopolitan city like Leghorn, I did not intend to give the cunning old fellow sight of it.
Why do you wish to inspect it? Ive packed it away, and it would give me great trouble to get at it again.
Then the signore does really send things to England to sell again, as I have heard the people say? suggested the old man somewhat rudely.
No, Im not a dealer, I responded angrily. Who told you so?
It is common gossip, signore, replied the queer old fellow blandly. But if you wish it, Ill take steps to correct public opinion on that point.
Let the gossips say what pleases them, I snapped. Ive never yet sold anything Ive bought. I suppose they think that by the quantity of my purchases I must be going to set up a curiosity shop. But, I added, tell me, Graniani, why do you wish to see the manuscript I bought yesterday?
Oh, mere curiosity, was his quick answer. You know Im interested in such things, and wanted to know how the prior treated you after my recommendation.
He treated me well enough, and I brought a bargain.
Oh, mere curiosity, was his quick answer. You know Im interested in such things, and wanted to know how the prior treated you after my recommendation.
He treated me well enough, and I brought a bargain.
A bargain? he echoed, and I fancied I detected a strange curl in his lip. The reverendo does not sell many bargains. How much did you pay?
Ah! I laughed, I suppose you want to charge him commission eh?
The hunchback grinned, displaying his toothless gums, whereupon I took up the receipt and showed him the amount I had paid.
Again he expressed a desire to be allowed to see the book; but, feeling certain that he had come to me with some hidden motive, and at the same time wondering what plot against me the evil-looking old fellow was forming, I point-blank refused. I did not tell him that I knew of his presence in Florence on the previous day, deeming it best to reserve the knowledge to myself. Without doubt he had seen the book in Landinis possession, and the desire to inspect it again was only a clever ruse.
I think, signore, that hitherto my dealings with you have shown me to be trustworthy, he said in a tone of complaint, and yet you refuse to allow me to see a volume that I understand is most interesting.
And rare, I added. It has already been valued by Olschki, who declares it to be a unique specimen, and worth very much more than I gave for it.
I know, I know, he replied with a sly wink. The person who sold it to the prior knew its value and told me. But it is not a bargain, signore depend upon it that you never get a bargain from the signor reverendo.
To whom, then, did it originally belong?
Ah, that I regret I am not at liberty to say, signore. I gave my word not to divulge the name. Our nobility who become so poor that they are compelled to sell their treasures to the rich foreigners, like yourself, are naturally very reticent about allowing themselves to be known as needy. True, I had believed that the old fellow himself was a broken-down noble, some count or marquis who had a knowledge of antiques and who had fallen upon evil times; but the events of the last couple of days had caused me to change my opinion, and to regard him rather as a clever and crafty adventurer.
I could see by his manner that he was ill at ease, and after some conversation regarding an old Montelupo plate he had offered me at a fabulous price, I waited for him to speak.
I really wish, signore, you would show me the manuscript, he blurted forth at last. Believe me, I have always acted in your best interests, and surely you will not refuse me such a small favour?
But why are you so desirous of seeing it? I demanded.
In order to verify a suspicion, was his response.
Suspicion of what?
A suspicion which I entertain, and of which, if true, you should be warned.
I was surprised at his words. Had not the actual seller of it warned me by strange hints?
But an instant later, on reflection, I saw the cunning of the two men, who, acting in collusion, wished to repossess themselves of the book, and I resolved to combat it.
I have no use for any warning, I laughed. I suppose youll tell me some fairy story or evil pursuing the man in whose possession the volume remains eh?
The hunchback raised his shoulders and exhibited his grimy palms, saying:
I have come to the signore as a friend. I regret if he should seek to treat me as an enemy.
Now, look here, I exclaimed, rather warmly, Ive no time to waste over useless humbug like this! Ive bought the book at the price asked, and neither you nor the prior will get it back again. Understand that! And further, I added, I shall not require anything more that you may have to sell. Ive finished buying antiques in Leghorn. You can tell all the touts in the piazza that my purse is closed.
Again the ugly old man raised his shoulders expressively and opened out his hands this time, however, in silence.
I rang the bell for Nello to show the fellow out. Then, when I had done this, he turned to me with knit brows and asked:
Does the signore refuse absolutely to show me the Book of Arnoldus?
Absolutely.
Then it must be at the signores peril, he said slowly, with a strange, deep meaningness and a curious expression on his brown, wrinkled face.
I dont believe in prophecy, I cried in anger. And if you mean it for a threat well, only your age saves you from being kicked downstairs.
The old fellow muttered beneath his breath some words I did not catch, then bowed as haughtily as though he were a courtier born, and, turning, followed the silent Nello through the long white door.
I believe it was a threat he uttered at the moment of parting; but of that I was not quite sure, therefore was unable to charge him with it.
Still the strange warning caused me to reflect, and the old hunchbacks movements and his secret inquiries about my antecedents all combined to induce within me a vague sense of anxiety and insecurity.
Through an hour in the blazing, breathless afternoon I dozed with cigarettes and my three-day-old English newspaper, as was my habit, for one cannot do literary work when the sun-shutters are closed and the place in cooling darkness. I was eager now to get back to England, and had already ordered Nello to make preparations for my departure. He was to go into town that afternoon and inform the professional packer to call and see me with a view to making wooden cases and crates for my collection of old furniture and pictures, all of which I intended to ship direct to London. Italy was a lovely country, I reflected, but, after all, England was better, especially when now, through no fault of my own, I had stumbled into a slough of mystery.
The faithful old man was heart-broken at my sudden decision to leave.
Ah, signor padrone, he sighed, when he returned to report, this is a sorry day for me! To think the signore goes to England so far off, and I shall never see him again! I have told them in the town, and everyone regrets.
No doubt, I answered, smiling. I suppose Ive been a pretty paying customer to the tradespeople. They must have made good profit out of me eh, Nello?
They did, signor padrone, before I came to you; but of late it has been different. Ive continually threatened to tell you when Ive found them attempting to cheat. They dont like to be thought thieves by an Englishman, signore.
(A section of five lines missing, page 52.)
Faltered the white-haired old man. Ah, signore, you dont know indeed you dont. You have always been so good to me that somehow well, to tell the truth, Ive served you as though you were my own son. Could you not take me with you to England?
Impossible! I said. You dont know English, in the first place; besides, you have your family here. Youll be far better off in Leghorn than in England, with its grey skies and damp climate. You, a Tuscan, couldnt stand it a month.
But Beppo Martini, from the Hotel Campari, went to London, and now hes one of the head-waiters at the Hotel Carlton a splendid post, they say, urged Nello.
I know. But he was younger, and hed been in Paris years before, I answered decisively. I regret, Nello, but to take you to England is utterly impossible. When I am gone, however, I hope to hear of you often through the signor console.
But you do not know, he urged. You cant know. All I can tell you is that when we part you will be in peril. While I am at your side nothing can happen. If you discharge me, then I fear for your safety.