Dave Duncan: The Alchemist's Apprentice

“Mate in two against any defense.” She snuggled closer. “Did I tell you about Pasqual?”

“You have never told me one word about that disgusting and hateful man.”

“I can this time, because it’s not confidential. He is going to marry Bianca Orseolo.”

I came awake with a start. “I always admired his taste in women. Seriously?”

“Very. He saw her twice at the attorney’s house and was smitten. He’s agreed to a very modest dowry, considering her station. Everyone else cut the family dead when Enrico was hanged and poor Bene has no experience of running a business. Pasqual will help him.”

“And help himself too?” Pasqual Tirali was quite clever enough to have worked out the significance of Bene’s excessive alibi and then bleed him of everything he possessed for the rest of his life. Even in bed I can be cynical. Try me.

“I think he’ll be fair,” Helen said. “And marriage is what Bianca wanted, foolish girl. If I were married, I couldn’t be here with you, could I?”

“Why not?”

“Oh, you know,” she said vaguely. “The wedding won’t be for a couple of years yet, after the ambassador comes home. Pasqual is still my patron.”

“I will kill him.”

“But Lent is over and he has to go to a meeting tonight. You know how bored I get without a man around to amuse me.”

Of course. I had been attempting clairvoyance with the crystal again that morning. I still could not create prophecies of epic importance as the Maestro could, but I had foreseen myself enjoying a very memorable evening.

androne a ground-floor hall used for business in a merchant’s palace atelier a studio or workshop barnabotti impoverished nobles, named for the parish of San Barnaba

Basilica of San Marco the great church alongside the Doges’ Palace ca’ (short for casa) a palace calle (pl. calli) an alley campo an open space in front of the parish church cavaliere servente a married woman’s male attendant (possibly gigolo) chaush an equerry of the Turkish sultan

Circospetto popular nickname for the chief secretary to the Council of Ten clarissimo “most illustrious,” form of address for a nobleman

Collegio the executive, roughly equivalent to a modern cabinet-the doge, his six counselors, and the sixteen ministers

Constantinople capital of the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire, now Istanbul corno the distinctive cap worn by the doge

Council of Ten the intelligence and security arm of the government, made up of the doge, his six counselors, and ten elected noblemen doge (“duke” in Veneziano) the head of state, elected for life ducat a silver coin, equal to 8 lira or 160 soldi, and roughly a week’s wages for a married journeyman laborer with children (unmarried men were paid less) fante (pl. fanti) a minion of the Ten felze a canopy on a gondola (no longer used) fondamenta a footpath alongside a canal

Great Council the noblemen of Venice in assembly, ultimate authority in the state kapikulu (pl. kapikullari) a servant (in effect a slave) of the sultan khave coffee (a recent innovation)

Leads prison cells in the attic of the Doges’ Palace lustrissimo “most illustrious,” honorific given to wealthy or notable citizens messer (pl. messere) my lord

Missier Grande chief of police, who carries out the orders of the Ten

Molo the waterfront of the Piazzetta, on the Grand Canal

Piazza the city square in front of the Basilica of San Marco

Piazzetta an extension of the Piazza, flanking the palace

Porta della Carte the main gateway into the Doges’ Palace salone a reception hall salotto a living room sbirri constables soldo (pl. soldi) see DUCAT

Ten see COUNCIL OF TEN

Three the state inquisitors, a subcommittee of the Council of Ten

Tuscan the language of Florence, which eventually became modern Italian

Veneziano Venetian language, similar to Italian

Vizio Missier Grande ’s deputy

Wells prison cells on the ground floor of the Doges’ Palace