The Dark Heart of Florence by Tasha Alexander (ebook reader screen TXT) 📕

they are meant to direct us to a specific place, how do the other two, both on the first floor, fit in?”

I studied the floor plan. “If one includes all the locations, regardless of floor, the lines cross in the same place. Did you look at the spot on the floor?”

“I did not, signora. I thought you would want to do that yourself.”

“What about the non-Latin graffiti?” I asked. “Could any of them be used in conjunction with the Latin as an anchor of sorts, to point us to another location?”

“I don’t believe the rest of the graffiti has any relation to the Latin. It probably wasn’t even written by someone of the same generation.”

“A valid point, particularly as we have no way to prove what was written when. We’re choosing to accept that the Latin dates from the days of Savonarola but cannot come to any reasonable conclusion as to what else was on the walls at the time. Did anything strike you as noteworthy among the non-Latin graffiti?”

“I’m afraid not,” she said. “Although I find it inconceivable that people were writing on the walls of a rich man’s house.”

“These houses, as first built, were more than simple family dwellings. Business was conducted in them. Even the Medici met with clients in their palazzo.”

“And someone waiting and waiting to speak to whoever was in charge might grow bored and start scribbling. It is strange, but I suppose I understand. If there’s nothing else to discuss, I should start on your hair or you’ll be late to dinner.”

Once my toilette was complete, I returned to the Sala dei Pappagalli, where Colin and Darius were standing in front of the fireplace, whisky glasses in hand, heads bent close in quiet conversation. I could see that Darius’s jacket was mended, but the work badly done. He needed a better valet. As I approached, they stepped apart and greeted me. I’d brought my notebook down, and showed them the lines Tessa had plotted.

“It’s an interesting idea,” Darius said, “even if the evidence is tenuous at best. All the same, I’ll admit I’m more than a little tempted to excavate the spot in the courtyard.”

“Don’t even consider it,” Colin said. “I’ve led Kat to believe we’re here on a pleasant holiday and don’t want her to think anything is amiss. We’re not going to start digging up anything.”

“Surely she knows about the break-ins?” I asked.

“I saw no reason to worry her.”

This did not seem wise to me, but I was not about to tell him how to best deal with his daughter. Fortunately, Cécile joined us just then, eager to show them the letters, so there was no more discussion of Kat. As they read, both gentlemen lit up, invigorated.

“We’ve been too quick to dismiss the possibility that the treasure is still here. I’m beginning to believe there’s a real possibility of finding something,” Darius said.

“Intriguing though the letters are, they offer no proof that the treasure—if it ever existed—remains hidden,” Colin said. “The house might have been ready and the passages impossible to find, but neither means anything was placed in them. Furthermore, passages are a far cry from a pit dug in the courtyard, so I’d abandon any thoughts of looking there.”

“You throw too much cold water, Monsieur Hargreaves. Let me have my fun,” Cécile said. “I am more convinced than ever that I am the one who will, at last, uncover the famous treasure of the Palazzo di Vieri. Unless the servants, who know the house better than any of us, get there first.”

“The servants have better things to do than waste their time on a hopeless business,” Colin said.

“Do they?” Darius asked. “I’d far prefer hunting for something that might bring me a fortune to scrubbing floors.”

“Anyone would,” I said. “Even in the face of terrible odds.”

“The staff here are dedicated to their work,” Colin said. “I’m certain they’ll leave the treasure hunting to you, Cécile.”

She narrowed her eyes and stared at him. “Are you, monsieur? I wonder how you can be so confident. It is not that I doubt you. I’m your staunchest supporter.”

“For that, madame, I am most humbly grateful.” He gave her a little bow.

“I shall leave it to you to make sure the servants stay out of it,” she said.

“You might change your mind about that, Cécile,” Darius said. “Fredo could be quite useful when it comes to digging up floors and opening walls.”

“We are not doing either,” Colin said. “This is my daughter’s house. I won’t see it destroyed.”

“Monsieur, I would never destroy it,” Cécile said. “Only poke and prod it a bit. We will repair anything we disturb. So far as your daughter is concerned, she’ll never know we were here.”

“Unless we do find the treasure,” I said. “Then we shall have to give it to her.”

“Bien sûr,” Cécile said.

I hadn’t heard her enter the room, but suddenly Tessa stepped forward and announced dinner. I wondered how much of our conversation she had overheard.

Later that evening, Colin did his best to assure me that the conversation I’d heard the staff having was innocuous.

“They each, separately, recounted the same story,” he said. “They admit to having mounted a search for the treasure and to being concerned that you and Cécile would find it before them.”

“So they intended to steal it?”

“No, that was never part of their plan. They assumed that if they discovered it, they would be given some sort of reward, but if you found it, they would get nothing.”

“And Fredo’s statement that he would deal with me? What did that mean?” I asked.

“That if worst came to worst, he would come forward and ask you to leave the search to them.”

“That makes no sense whatsoever.”

“It’s clumsy at best,” Colin said. “However, I can assure you that none of them means you the slightest harm. Before being hired, each underwent extensive investigation into their backgrounds. They are paid a salary considerably higher than their peers in other households. There’s more, but I can’t