“Are you telling me this as a means to ease me, or do you truly mean it?” she asked, staring up at him.
“Certainly I meant it. Did you not want help from me?” His question was gently posed, and he did not press her for an answer while she drank again. “Erneste?”
A little more color brightened her cheeks at the use of her name. “I do want your help, Grav, but I hope you will not be—”
He spoke without indignation or choler, but with a calm sadness. “What must you think I am, to suppose I would impose my desires upon you as a condition of caring for your aunt.”
“Oh, no,” she said, flustered. “That isn’t what I meant—”
“Is it not.” He studied her for a long moment, no censure in his gaze.
She schooled herself to better behavior. “I intended no discourtesy. But you see, Grav, I have nothing to pay for your care, whatever it may be.” She hesitated. “You have been generous in the shares you have given me in publishing my book, but with all that has happened, and my brother needing money, I have very little left, and I will have nothing to provide us shelter and food if you must be paid.” She looked him directly in the eyes. “But I cannot ask you to work without recompense, and so I must find something to offer you in exchange for your—”
“Impose no qualifications upon your pledges that you cannot fulfill,” Saint-Germain advised her, his voice low and tranquil.
“But it is unfair to expect—”
“Perhaps it is, but it is my decision to make, not yours. And it is my decision to help your aunt—you have not coerced me, or cozened me.” He lifted one of her hands and brushed his lips over the knuckles. “What others may or may not do is not your responsibility, and so you have no reason to take that on yourself.”
She stared at him, shaken by what he had said. “I can understand how a man of your position might decide such a thing, but I have not your good fortune, and I must answer for the welfare of others in this world. My aunt depends upon me now, and my brother. I cannot refuse them.” She finished her wine in a manner of one concluding a debate.
“Then I fear you will bring yourself much needless grief,” he told her kindly as he held out his hand to assist her to rise.
“Such is the legacy of all women,” said Erneste with a fatalism she would not have displayed had she been less fatigued and had not drunk such a generous portion of wine. She put her hand into his and allowed him to assist her to rise. Then she bit her underlip. “I … I fear The Grey Tern may not be the sort of hostelry you are accustomed to.”
“I have, in my time, spent the night in caves and in hovels, and on many occasions I have slept in barns and under hayricks,” he said, an ironic light at the back of his dark eyes as he recalled some of the less savory places he had taken shelter during his long years of life, places that he did not mention to Erneste. “A dockside inn will not offend my sensibilities. I hope you will not trouble yourself over such things.”
Erneste made another attempt at a real smile. “Thank you; I should have realized you would be gracious.”
Centuries earlier he would have been tempted to give a jocular answer, but over the long decades—now numbering over twelve thousand decades—he had learned not to mock those who were suffering, so he only said, “If you will tell me how we are to find the place—”
“It will be fastest to travel by canal, if you have a boat we may use?”
Saint-Germain sighed at the prospect of having to travel over running water, and resigned himself to the vertigo it would cause even with the lining of his native earth in the boat. “I have the services of a boatman and his craft. I will send Ruthger to summon Piet to meet us as soon as he can bring his craft. I trust you will be able to guide him?”
“Oh, yes. Then we should reach her before the end of the hour.” Erneste rubbed her hands on her inner sleeves. “Oh, thank you, thank you, Grav. I pray you may not have cause to regret this decision.”
Saint-Germain crossed the room to close the shutters, his demeanor composed as he fixed the latches. “I may, but not nearly so much as I would regret doing nothing.” He returned to her side and knelt to pick up her coif. “You may want to put this on again. Or I have a hooded cloak you could borrow, if you like.”
She took the coif and stared at it, noticing the blood for the first time. “My aunt’s,” she said as if astonished to see it; she turned to Saint-Germain. “If you don’t mind, I would like to borrow the cloak. I didn’t realize that—” She held up the coif so that Saint-Germain could see the blood.
“Certainly,” said Saint-Germain. “If you will stay here, I will fetch it along with my case of medicaments.”
Confusion almost overcame her again. “Oh, no, Grav. I didn’t mean … You shouldn’t have to—”
“Deme, I have some instructions to issue to this household, a few provisions to make. I will return as quickly as I am able. If you like, you may choose something to read in my absence.” He offered her a slight bow and before she could speak again, he stepped back into the corridor, and went off to his laboratory, where he found Ruthger standing in front of his ancient red-lacquer chest, placing the last of the rolls of bandages in his small leather case.
Without turning, Ruthger said, “I have sent for Piet.”
Saint-Germain smiled quickly. “Thank you, old friend: you anticipate my every need.”
“Then allow me another expectancy, and order rooms prepared for Deme van Amsteljaxter and her Aunt Evangeline.” He closed the case and buckled it, then moved back and closed the red-lacquer chest. “I have this ready.”
“After all these years I should not be astonished, but I am,” said Saint-Germain as he took the case from Ruthger.
A suggestion of amusement shone in Ruthger’s faded-blue eyes. “No, my master, you should not be.”
“Then I will rest assured that all will be prepared when I return later this evening, although I cannot yet tell you what hour that is apt to happen.” He nodded once and was about to depart when something more occurred to him. “If it is possible, there should be a supper ready for the women—soup, perhaps—something that can simmer for some time.”
“I will attend to it.” Ruthger was still for an instant, then reached inside his doublet and brought out a letter. “This was brought by Kees at the warehouse a short while ago. He said it was carried by a special messenger from Antwerp.”
Saint-Germain took it, studying the handwriting on the address. “I will read it later this evening.” As he went out of the laboratory he wondered allowed, “What can Giovanni Boromeo want that is so urgent?”
Text of a letter from James Belfountain in Antwerp to Grav Saint-Germain in Amsterdam, written in English, carried by three of his men and delivered three days after it was written.
To the Grav Saint-Germain presently in Amsterdam, the greetings of James Belfountain presently at The Two Gold Lambs in Antwerp, on this, the 21
st
day of June, 1531.
My esteemed Grav, I have received the sum of seventy ducats and your letter from your messenger in partial payment for the escort by me and four of my men for you and your manservant from this city to Mestre in the Most Serene Republic, to be accomplished at as great a speed as horses and circumstances will allow. Your proposal of payment of twenty ducats a day for the journey, not including food and lodging, is acceptable, and will count against the monies I have in hand from you. I also accept your offer of a bonus of twenty ducats apiece if the journey can be made in less than ten days, barring acts of God, or of His followers.
We will provide a limited remuda, with a single remount for each of the group. I and my men will provide arms for the journey, which will be included in the daily hire, except if we should have to engage any armed opponents: in that case, the daily hire will double for that day, and you will pay for the replacement of any arms, armor, horses, or other equipment lost in such conflict.
You will carry sufficient money to permit us to procure remounts on the road as needed. Needs of shelter and food are to be my concern, and I will dispatch men at once to make suitable arrangements along the road, whose services as scouts will be included in their pay; a reckoning of these totals will be rendered upon our reaching Mestre.
Your letter informs me that your presence is required in Venice immediately. You may depend upon me and my men to do our utmost to enable you to arrive as quickly as can be possible. In demonstration of that intention, I will hand this to my men at once, and send them on their way to Amsterdam.
I look forward to the opportunity of serving you again, my Lord, and I thank you for your patronage.
Believe me to be
Yours to command,
James Belfountain
FRANZICCO RAGOCZY, CONTE DI SANTO-GERMANO
T
ext of a letter from Rudolph Eschen in Amsterdam to Germain Ragoczy, Grav Saint-Germain, in care of his steward Simeon Roosholm in Antwerp, with instructions to forward it to Saint-Germain at his present location, delivered to Roosholm by private courier four days after it was written.
To the Grav the most honorable Germain Ragoczy of Saint-Germain, this from the advocate Rudolph Eschen, on this, the 2
nd
day of July, 1531, from Amsterdam.
Grav: I have in hand all the deeds, trusts, and transfers you brought to me three days since, along with your instructions in their regard, hard upon your departure from this city, and I am writing now to confirm those instructions so that you may review and modify them according to your wishes before I proceed with enacting them.
Item: to give full and unqualified support to Mercutius Christermann so that he may continue to keep Eclipse Press in operation as long as the city laws and the Church will allow it; for the running of the press, you allocate the sum of ten ducats a month, for supplies and similar expenses, another five ducats, to be paid from your account at the van Wech Trading Trust, and from the Foreign Merchants Depository. For Christermann himself, you authorize five ducats a month, to allow him to live in reasonable comfort. To those pressmen and others who have elected to leave your employ, you have instructed me to provide a month’s wages as part of their release: this is another example of your admirable character but I would be remiss in my duty if I did not tell you that I am not in favor of such munificence.
Regarding the continuing publications from Eclipse Press, you expect Christermann to produce at least four books in a year, and if he undertakes a more ambitious program, to adjust his funds accordingly. You have arranged for your books to be carried on your ships for sales abroad, the numbers and titles to be recorded here and where sales take place. I have executed the final copy of the contract you made with Christermann, permitting him to hire such men as he needs to produce the books scheduled and in preparation, with your admonition that he is to use his best judgment where your previous workers are concerned.
I must tell you again, Grav, as your advocate, that I believe you are being too generous to those men who allowed themselves to be bullied into leaving your company. I repeat my previous advice—give them nothing, not even a recommendation, as they have done nothing to deserve your assistance. Also, as this Christermann is untested on his own, I would advise giving him a less free-handed amount of money until he has proven he is capable of fulfilling his tasks. I can think of few businessmen who would not second my admonition.
Item: to Erneste van Amsteljaxter, unconditional life tenancy of your house, for herself and such companions as she may wish to have receive her hospitality, with such funds as are needed to maintain the building and the household, to hire such new servants as may be needed, and to make such changes in the house as may be prudent. In addition, you offer her the right to use the house in any way that suits her, as long as it is in accord with the law. You permit her to house those four women who were wounded in the so-called Women’s Revolt at the end of May for as long as it suits her, with no restrictions put upon her because of what many may see as an endorsement of an illegal act. In spite of this imprudent support of rebellious wool-workers, you have given her autonomy over the property for the duration of her life, as well as the use of your town carriage and your coachman, and your barge and bargeman, for which you will pay wages and maintenance. You also provide her with an annual grant of one hundred ducats so that she may be free to write and study as she wishes. You also wish to provide the funds for erecting a headstone for her Aunt Evangeline, of which I shall inform Deme van Amsteljaxter within the week.
Item: for Bogardt van Leun, an annual stipend of twenty ducats beyond his usual salary, and the promise that he and his wife will have employment in your Amsterdam household for as long as they so desire, with the use of the cottage you own to the southeast of the city when he reaches the age of forty-five, when he will be eligible to retire from your service without loss of pay either to himself or his wife. You also propose to pay for the education of any children, male or female, they may have.
Item: to Dries Altermaat, the authority to conduct business in your name as official factor for Eclipse Trading and Mercantile Company, with such sums as are needed to keep the company ships in good repair, ditto the warehouses, to provide reasonable sums for such demands of business may require, and sixty ducats per year for his work: this on condition that the trading accounts of Eclipse Trading and Mercantile Company be scrutinized and verified semiannually, with penalties for any irregularity beyond the amount of ten ducats. He is to work in regular consultation with your dispatcher and warehouse supervisors, and to provide monthly reports on those matters, along with inventories, to my office for my perusal, and my promise that any dispute in facts and figures will be addressed promptly.
This last is, in my opinion, a very sensible provision, and I am pleased to see you have decided to include this element of restraint in your unusual magnanimity; few businessmen in Amsterdam are either so wealthy as you, or so willing to spend with your unselfishness. I will not refuse to follow your orders, but I would not be fulfilling my responsibilities to you if I did not remark on my reservations, especially in regard to your fortune, considerable though it may be. You may say that it is your practice, because of your long absences, not to restrict those in your employ by not allowing for unforeseen events; while that is all very well, you will permit me to observe that what you deem advisable I can only see as extravagant and possibly reckless, for your very largesse invites those in your employ to take advantage of you. With that for a caveat, I will carry out your instructions in every particular.
Item: for any in your household or business brought before either civil or religious tribunals in this city, I have in hand one hundred fifty ducats to provide for the defense of any requiring it, and the bond that the court may require on their behalf, with the added assurance that should such a detention occur, I will notify you by private courier at once, with an account of the charges and the likely progress of the case, insofar as it is possible for me to determine such. You guarantee me an additional three hundred ducats if so great a sum is needed.
As agreed, I will tender you quarterly reports regarding your businesses and property in this city, as well as any actions, requests, or changes from your household, your press, and your trading company. I will use the courier you have paid for, and I will act within three days on any crucial development to apprise you of each and every significant change in regard to those actions and accusations. Insofar as my acts are in accord with the law, I will assure you that I will honor my fiduciary responsibilities as laid out above.
With every wish for your continued good health and prosperity,
I am
always at your service,
Rudolph Eschen
Advocàte-at-law
By my own hand: a witnessed copy of this letter is included among my records of our association.