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After viewing the newly-cast bronze cannon that were hidden in a chamber off of the caverns under the great villa, il Professore and his guest went to the coffee house to continue their conversation.

Abu bin Malachi, special envoy of the Pasha of Tripoli and general agent at large of the Great Sultan in Istanbul, gratefully accepted a cup of well-sweetened coffee from his host and old friend, Don Aldo Stern, member of the Council of Magistrates at Rocca Sorrentina in the Kingdom of Naples and occasional diplomatic representative of the House of Savoy.

He sipped from his steaming cup and commented, The beverage, it is excellent, my friend. Your people of this beautiful place, they understand truly the art of coffee.

Don Aldo bowed his head respectfully. Your words are kind, and I will share them with the mistress of the coffee house, who has retired for the night so that you and I may speak with directness, as we have always done.

The gray-bearded Ottoman gentleman smiled. That we have. You and I...fortunate are we among those who do serve in the world of diplomacy. There are few in my trade whom I may call friend...and it is not a term I use lightly or without true cause. As you well know, I full believe that certain words are as important as actions, imbued with great importance, and are to be treated with respect...as one treats anything of sacred value and meaning.

Don Aldo nodded. After a pause, he asked quietly, What do you think of the guns? Will those and others like them serve your purpose?

Indeed, bin Malachi answered. They are things of terrible beauty, a testament to the skill of the foundry-master who cast them. They will fulfill their role nobly, both as gift and ultimately, in their essential purpose as tools of defense. It has been a long time since I looked upon pieces so well made.

Il Professore sighed. It is much to my regret that so far I was only able to secure three of the six that were requested. However, they did appear much sooner than I expected...I suspect the gentleman who provided them to me took them from another order that had already been assembled for a different client, as a demonstration of good faith to me. While it is not the full number that was required, as you happened to be nearby, I thought you would care to see them. I am gratified that you received my message and were able to divert the course of your travels...and not simply so that I might show you the guns, but also that I could have an opportunity to visit with a good friend, even if only briefly.

I am very pleased you did so, replied the gentleman from Tripoli. In fact, if you feel comfortable with me doing so, before the sun even again rises, I can take the three guns onto my ship and go forward to commence the negotiations for the release of the lady.

Ah, I would most certainly be comfortable with such an arrangement. Our good King Ferdianads customs officers have returned to the mainland, and will be no hindrance. If you wish...I could provide some additional goods as tokens of esteem, and as assurance that the other artillery pieces will be forthcoming.

No, no, my friend. I would ask that you not think of such as being necessary. And besides, I may even be able to make the argument that these three guns are so finely crafted as to be worth the equivalent of six pieces of more standard quality, eh?

Abu bin Malachi was grinning like a Berber merchant who was about to make a very favorable transaction. Il Professore could not help smiling in return. His old friend took such obvious joy and delight in the challenge of negotiating, that it was as if diplomacy was a favorite sport rather than a profession for him.

By the way, continued bin Malachi, how has the blacksmith fared?

It is gracious of you to inquire," replied Don Aldo. "He is doing well, and in fact came here to the island to serve as our ironsmith and sword cutler. He seems to feel some sense of duty to me, in return for the small role I played in securing his ransom from captivity.

Hah! And well he should. Now THAT was a challenge, to obtain the release of a man with such useful skills and knowledge! By comparison, getting a lady, even a well-born one, returned from enslavement is a small matter. Allah has seen fit to fill the world with a great many women, but really good blacksmiths? Not so common they are, you know.

Abu bin Malachi sipped his coffee and paused, then looked up with a thoughtful expression. In all sincerity, my friend, I am pleased to know that the man prospers. To be held as a slave is no easy path, and the marks it may leave upon a mans mind and spirit can be difficult to overcome. I wish unto Miguel the blacksmith a long and joyful existence, and if he feels he owes that to you, I can think of many worse men to whom one might be indebted. Speaking of those who have prospered in your service, will I have the chance to see that good fellow, Achille?

No my friend, he is away, carrying messages to a certain Contessa who we have come to understand is in the camps of the Sinti, in the mountains to the north.

The Sinti?

That is the term we use in my homeland of the Piedmont. They are a branch of the Romani.

Ah yes, the wandering people -- we have some of their communities in the parts of the Balkans that the Empire still controls. Some very good coppersmiths, there are among them. Is this Contessa of Romani descent?

No...not that I am aware of...she is, in fact, the daughter of the Venetian Conte who helped me to procure those artillery pieces. She is hiding among the nomads in order to avoid falling into the hands of...shall we say, unpleasant people in Venezia.

Abu bin Malachi sighed and set down his coffee cup. The world would be a much nicer place if there not quite so many unpleasant people wandering about. But it sounds as if this Venetian gentleman is someone who it would be good to know...I should like to meet him sometime.

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