light from the passage. The radiance behind the intruder framed him dramatically. It made him the perfect target.
‘I have come, Ignatius,’ said the man and swept his cloak behind him. ‘Please forgive my coarse introduction. I wished my announcement into your town to be as discreet as possible. I hope I have not offended.’
Ignatius closed the drawer. ‘Not at all. I value discretion above all the other virtues.’
His visitor bowed again and indicated the terrified servant. ‘Please, do not allow me to interrupt your meal.’
Ignatius dismissed the boy who bowed meekly, grateful to close the door behind him and careful not to upset his tray. The room sank into darkness once more.
‘It is of no matter. It is more important that you are here at last, Governor Mendes.’
The visitor approached, curiosity on his face, and took the proffered seat. Ignatius had never seen Mendes to know his face and the expression of curiosity was not lost on him.
‘I know everyone I need to know, Governor. But I pay special attention to those whose letters intrigue me most.’
‘Intrigue?’ The word amused Valentim Mendes. ‘A fine choice of phrase indeed.’ He slapped some dust the long voyage from Sao Nicolau had ground into the expensive cloth of his doublet. His island home in the Portuguese Verdes was the seat of his governorship and the birthplace of his revenge. One night, several months past, had been enough to change his life. Enough to have him enlist a man on the other side of the world yet known throughout the courts of Europe – even if only by whispers behind princely hands.
A drink was offered and declined. Ignatius’s world being too large for small talk, he picked up the letter penned by Valentim’s own hand.
‘Your correspondence informs me that you know where the letters of the priest lie? The arcanum I believed lost with the pirate ship they went down on. Letters I paid a young captain a considerable sum to bring to me from China. You should be congratulated that you could establish that which I could not. This is valuable information, and not just to me.’
Valentim’s black eyes narrowed with a nobleman’s hauteur. ‘I am not interested in their price, Ignatius. Let baser men deal with the devil, if you wish the porcelain that is your concern. Since my … disgrace … I pursue higher ideals.’
‘Disgrace? My understanding is that you lost a frigate to pirates. In April was it not? The same time I lost my letters with Bellamy’s ship. An expensive loss for both of us as far as we have let pirates into our world, but hardly your own disgrace, Governor?’
Valentim leant forward, carefully enunciating his words for the ignorant. ‘You Englishmen do not understand the meaning of disgrace.’
Ignatius nodded. ‘Or perhaps we simply have too little experience of it, Governor.’ He steepled his fingers beneath his chin. ‘And what is my side of our bargain? What do you require of me that is beyond your worldly reach?’
Valentim looked to the ceiling, gathering himself for words he had long desired to speak. ‘I do not have the measure of your trade or your fine thread of connections, Ignatius. Your abilities, so favoured, outshine my reach or power. especially in this “New World”. And I am sure in the underbelly of this New World also.’ Ignatius inclined his head at the near-compliment. ‘It is therefore to you I come. My information and my purse are at your disposal. If you can find me the man whom I seek.’ Valentim stabbed a gloved finger towards Ignatius. ‘And it is he who must be sent to retrieve your precious letters. He who must be brought before me to pay. He whom I must kill. That is my price, Ignatius.’
Ignatius studied Valentim’s face. The overarching intri cacies of hate had ever been the manifesto of the noble. He had learnt that early. He had profited by little else. ‘And who is this man you wish me to find, Governor? What is this “underbelly” you wish me to scratch?’
Valentim sprang to his feet and stepped around his chair. Ignatius heard Valentim’s left gloved hand strike an odd chiming sound against the back of the chair as he did so. His eyes followed it as Valentim began to pace the room. Something unwholesome lurked in its size and limpness.
‘Do not mark me as a petty man, Ignatius! I seek personal redress against one who has robbed me of more than coin!’