Mary Reed - Four for a Boy

“You say you’re a friend of Viator’s?” Felix asked

“Yes, and friends watch out for their friends. Especially given the current state of affairs. This reminds me, Viator told me he thought he was being followed around. I advised him that there are always hordes of people surging about the docks. He was uneasy. I think Hypatius’ death was very much on his mind.”

“Did he know Hypatius?” John asked with interest.

Theophylaktos rubbed his hands together so vigorously John could hear the palms rasp against each other. It reminded him of the rustling of dry leaves blown down a lane as summer died.

“Indeed he did! That was another example of his lack of business acumen. Hypatius was a very good friend of his. Or was, until he cheated Viator out of a great deal of money even though Hypatius knew Viator’s finances were stretched. I’m not certain of the details. Now I suppose it will never be resolved.”

He drew a breath and looked back toward his house, down at the roof of the warehouse, and then finally at John and Felix.

“So I suppose it was natural he got it into his head that he was suspected of Hypatius’ murder. When you arrived this afternoon, well, you can see he would prefer to make himself scarce. That explains why his son has disappeared too. In the circumstances, you wouldn’t want to leave any of your family behind either.”

It was with some difficulty that John and Felix managed to separate themselves from the verbal clutches of the excessively helpful ship owner. The men recruited to apprehend the vanished fugitives lounged on the other side of the street, their impatience poorly concealed.

“I’m afraid Viator’s neighbor is confused. It’s the son who’s suspected of murder, not the father,” Felix remarked to John in an undertone.

“Unless Viator incited his son to do it. If the son really is the culprit.”

“Either way, unfortunately, we have to return to the Gourd with empty hands.”

“I must say I am not looking forward to that.”

Felix laughed mirthlessly. “Then I suggest that you contemplate instead the wine which we will doubtless require to revive ourselves immediately afterward.”

“You know you’re welcome here, Felix, no matter what the hour! However, since you’ll be venturing back onto dark streets I insist you partake a little bit less of my hospitality than you did last time.”

Isis gave the excubitor a stern look. Nevertheless she refilled his wine cup. Turning to John, seated on a low stool by her couch, she continued. “Felix has a good heart. He once saved one of my girls from-”

“We don’t need to talk about that, Isis,” Felix interrupted. “Your kindness since, and the kindness of your girls, has more than repaid me!” Isis said no more, but gave Felix a fond pat on his knee.

“There’s something going on that we don’t know about,” Felix complained. “But what?”

“Is that why you’re here? To discuss business?” Isis began to pare an apple with a dainty silver knife.

“Actually, yes, Isis. I certainly don’t want to discuss this in the barracks. The streets are far too cold and the prospect of sitting whispering in a corner of a tavern doesn’t appeal to me.”

Isis lowered kohl-blackened eyelids thoughtfully. “There’s a service I hadn’t considered selling before. Offering gentlemen a discreet meeting place to discuss delicate matters.” She popped a sliver of apple into her mouth. “In this city there’s a market for everything. Why, a fellow approached me today wanting to supply my establishment with young boys. A lucrative trade, no doubt, but one I refuse to engage in.”

The single lamp on the ivory inlaid table between the couches on which Isis and Felix reclined cast a pool of light that glinted off a silver bowl, gold embroidery on a pillow, and the varnished panther feet of the couches.

“You have done very well for yourself, without resorting to such things,” remarked John.

Isis smiled. “Constantinople is a city where even the humblest can rise to great glory. “

“That’s true,” said Felix. “Look at Justin for a start.”

“And Theodora,” Isis reminded him. “From actress to empress.”

“She’s not empress quite yet and there are those who seek to prevent it happening,” Felix pointed out. “A common whore, they call her. Not fit to be Justinian’s wife.”

Isis looked offended. “I’ve heard that as well. It’s an ignorant opinion. Theodora was never a common whore. She was an actress and a mime. She didn’t cavort among the audience. She performed on stage. Her favors weren’t for sale to the common rabble, but only by special arrangement with men of refinement.” She waved her silver fruit knife for emphasis. “Now take Euphemia, or rather Lupicina. There’s a whore’s name if I ever heard one. She was one of those untalented little girls who work sweaty crowds. Why do you think she hated Theodora so much?”

“Constantinople is certainly a city of endless opportunity,” said John. “One day you’re fighting with a mongrel in the gutter for a bone, the next you’re supping on peacock with the Patriarch.”

“Not when you fail at even a simple task such as we have been set,” replied Felix dolefully.

“I’m certain even Justinian has failed at something, some time or other,” Isis observed.

“And whether we’ve truly failed depends on what we’re really meant to accomplish.” John hesitated, uncertain whether he should discuss such matters in front of an Egyptian madam he had met only on one previous occasion.

“Go on,” Felix told him. “Isis is absolutely trustworthy. You can rely on her discretion.”

“I should think so,” Isis retorted. “It’s vital in my profession!”

“Very well,” John said. “In short, a one-eyed man can see we’ve been planted as spies in the Gourd’s office. Deliberately obvious spies.”

“That’s right!” Felix responded. “What use are our investigations? Why should these powerful men we’ve been interviewing tell us anything? They deny anything inconvenient and meantime must be finding it very humorous to send us off to bark at some rival or other. Doubtless they think it’s a wonderful jest. No, what I’m certain our masters really want is for us to keep an eye on the Gourd.”

“And they want the Gourd to be aware we’re keeping an eye on him. Not only that, since we had specific instructions to continue our usual duties, in my case tutoring Lady Anna, I expect to be grilled about the senator’s household in due course.”

“Not to mention we are also supposed to be keeping an eye on each other.” Felix grinned.

Isis dropped her knife onto the table and made a show of throwing up her plump hands. “I’m glad I’m not in your business. At least I have a pretty good notion of what my patrons are after! Your suspicions are probably correct, though. Justinian has always been fond of informers. It was an informer of his who introduced him to Theodora. Macedonia, a dancer for the Blues. Normally Macedonia would pass on to Justinian names of those who might pose a threat to him. Remarkable how loose men’s tongues can be when they’re seeking to impress a woman. She met Theodora in Antioch, or so the story goes.”

“Why would this Macedonia have introduced Theodora to Justinian?” Felix wondered.

“Perhaps Macedonia thought Theodora would make a good informer herself. Or maybe it was because Theodora was such a strong supporter of the Blues, like Justinian. Or maybe it was because of that dream Theodora had.”

“What dream is that, Isis? Excubitors don’t hear all the gossip you do.”

“Theodora told Macedonia she dreamt she journeyed to Constantinople. There she met the Lord of the Demons who took her to his bed and subsequently showered her with endless wealth.”