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"I will ask hi," said Moliner, earning a look of reht be that you were less diligent with di Santo-Gerlier Ziane&039;s records?" Valentin bowed his pardon to Ziane

"I would not say less diligent, but perhaps not so well-inforiven that much of his money was not in this city," Christofo Sen declared "I have little intelligence on his businesses away from Venezia, except what he chooses to report"

"Did you do anything that ht compromise di Santo-Germano in your records?" Moliner asked

"Not that I am aware of," said Sen, a look of unctuous satisfaction spreading over his visage

"And you are satisfied that you could not specifically identify the thief as Gennaro Emerenzio?" Moliner folded his hands in a display of patience

Sen glared at di Santo-Ger the darkness as if to bring fell deeds to light "If there was any theft, I could not deter moment, then asked, "Do you have any reason to hold di Santo-Germano in such contempt as you appear to do?"

"I do not hold hiree with those who assert that di Santo-Ger of your nephew, Leoncio, have you not? For I have a witness who has heard you say that" He cocked his head toward the keystone of the horseshoe chairs, where Consiglier Fosian sat

"I ht be inclined to hars?" Sen stah that the lad should beof what has become of hilier Ziane interrupted hiht have to abduct your nephew?"

Sen seemed at a loss for an answer "I should have supposed it was for ransoreat deal for Leoncio&039;s return, and after all, di Santo-Ger a ransoood family would swiftly fill his coffers"

Di Santo-Germano saw Christofo Sen&039;s eyelids flicker, and he wondered why the secretary was disse

"And have you received such a de of it"

"No," said Sen "We have heard nothing"

"Don&039;t you find that odd?" Ziane asked as he waved Christofo Sen away from the Witnesses&039; Chair

Christofo Sen faltered "I hadn&039;t considered it," he said stiffly "At first we all thought that Leoncio had decided to leave the city for reasons of his own But when he didn&039;t return, weinquiries, but have discovered nothing"

"Youanything," said Sen, and seeing the shocked expression on Ziane&039;s face, he added, "I am certain my nephew must be found, sooner rather than later, and when he is, he will tell us what happened to him, and ill take the proper ed him"

With a sardonic slant to his brow, Ziane said, "I am sure all of us share your hope" He pointed to Valentin "Who next?"

"Padre Egidio Duradante," said Valentin promptly, and motioned for the priest to come forward and take his oath

"This all seems fairly redundant I am a priest and enjoined to speak truthfully at all ti his silk-faille lucchetto with fussy little strokes of his well-grooe the Consiglier"

"You know Gennaro Ea wary, and weighing his answers to volunteer as little as possible

"You also know Leoncio Sen," Valentin said

"Better than I know Gennaro E more comfortably into the Witnesses&039; Chair

Moliner studied Padre Duradante for a full minute, then asked, "Hoell do you know di Santo-Germano?"

"I knoho he is, and I know he has a house on Campo San Luca I have not been there, but Padre Bonno history of generosity to San Luca"

"Do you know anything about Gennaro Es with di Santo-Germano?" Moliner held up his hand so that Padre Duradante would not answer yet "I don&039;t ask you to reveal anything you have been told in confidence, yet I ask you to consider private discoveries as well as public ones"

"I would not compro Moliner with a hard look "But in this case, there is little to tell: Eo to the Lowlands?-he mentioned that di Santo-Germano had provided lavishly for all his Venezian ventures and dependents; he said all merchants should be so providential Sometime later, Emerenzo said that the Lisbon earthquake had dealt di Santo-Germano a fearsome blow, and that it could be years before he recouped his losses"

"Would you suppose, from what you know for yourself, or have been told by reliable ain from his position as business-factor for di Santo-Gerht surmise it," said Padre Duradante

Why, di Santo-Ger to offer so much information on Emerenzio&039;s behalf, and so little to his benefit?

"At any point in your ga with Emerenzio did you wonder about his money, and his losses?"

"I don&039;t usually think about the affairs of those ho into hauteur

"But you have wondered if di Santo-Germano was in any way connected to Leoncio Sen&039;s disappearance, have you not?" Moliner took up his questioning again, this time with alacrity

"That I have," said Padre Duradante "When I heard the felloasto do with Pier-Ariana Salier, who had been in di Santo-Germano&039;s protection until his fortune was lost; Leoncio desired her for hiht to win her before she left this city to take up residence with a cousin Leoncio vowed to find her and continue his solicitation of her favors, but that opportunity eluded him Upon his return to Venezia, di Santo-Ger Sen disappeared, I could not help but wonder what di Santo-Germano had to do with it, for Pier-Ariana returned to Venezia not long after Leoncio vanished, once again in di Santo-Germano&039;s protection"

"Is there anyone who could corroborate your observations?" Moliner asked,no effort to hide his satisfaction at Padre Duradante&039;s answer

"There is one I aue of a fellow-a spy called Basilio Cuor" He pursed his lips in a show of distaste "I gather thedi Santo-Germano for some time: Leoncio told me Cuor had been ordered to follow di Santo-Ger his uncle"-he nodded toward Christofo Sen-"with reports of di Santo-Ger his assistance to Protestants, and rebellious woainst the order of the Spanish Crown"

Valentin needed a little time to evaluate the implications of these remarks; he asked, "This Basilio Cuor-do you trust hih "Does anyone trust a spy?"

Valentin nodded "True enough-and yet you trust hi that man&039;s mission to support your contention: why is that?"

Taken aback by this unexpected inquiry, Padre Duradante stalio, and they have been guided by his revelations"

Moliner was ready with his next question, but was stopped when Consiglier Ziane intervened "A second-hand report on such i as this one It appears that we must have testiard to the case Since he is not in attendance here, he must be found and summoned Therefore ill stop now for prandiulio out to apprehend this Basilio Cuor, so he may appear before me and explain all he knows I will have word sent to you as to when this hearing will resume Be ready for this afternoon, but understand that it may take a day or two to find the ed quick looks of alarlier had left the chaht the matter was finished Now this"

"The matter isn&039;t finished," Valentin said, andthey should meet in the corridor

While the witnesses filed out of the hearing room in unaccustomed silence, di Santo-Germano saw Christofo Sen let himself out of the side-door; this perplexed hi the su what else Sen&039;s behavior ht imply, di Santo-Germano went into the corridor and waited beneath the tallthat poured light into the corridor

Valentin caize for keeping you waiting, Conte; I was hoping to learn sonorant of the s with Sen, and that troubles me"

"And what did you discover?" di Santo-Gernificance" Valentin paused briefly "Moliner tells me that he, too, was unaware of thethe time to frame his answer, Valentin said, "I believe Moliner did not kno ht play in the case, but I also believe he had heard the name before, and had been told a little about hi-does any of this have to do with Gennaro Emerenzio?" di Santo-Gerether "That is e must determine," he said with an emotion made up of hope, uncertainty, and i resumes"

Text of a letter from Gennaro Egier of Le Rose

To Christofo Sen, senior secretary to the Savii da Mar, on this, the 2ndday of Nove Leoncio to follow me until I was able to take him prisoner Your nephew has doubtless reached the slave-markets of the Ottomites, and will not be returned to you, no matter what pleas he makes, for, as you instructed, I branded his forehead with thehim into the hands of the Turks No matter what he says, or what promises of ransom he voill be paid for him, no one will believe him

You promised me when I undertook to work for you that all s of di Santo-Germano&039;s accounts and rid you of Leoncio; I have coain, and yet you have not completed yours I must have your pardon shortly, or I will be wholly without funds If you think Benedetto Maggier will allow me to remain here clandestinely without the required payment for his silence and his attic, you misunderstand the man If I cannot pay his fee, he will expose me to the officers of the court, and collect the reward that is presently offered for my seizure by the court

Do not suppose that if I am captured that I will keep your secret for you-I would use everything I know of your pilferage and your nephew&039;s extortion attempts to ensure thatthat you would be incarcerated withstolen s, and for the sake of my soul, I will confess every aspect ofof trust accounts, as well as the profit you made froe you with several crimes, as I will testify

I ait untilafter that tio to di Santo-Germano, and ask hilier Ziane and beg for his mercy Give this your close consideration, and then send ard you deserve,

Gennaro Emerenzio