~

M ercury Gandt was not having the best day of his life. But hey, the cards are dealt and we see what we have to work with, eh?.

He was hoping that the day was going to improve, but in all honesty, his expectations were pretty low. He did in fact, have some information for the Sbirri, but he was unsure that it was going to be enough to keep those bastards happy for a while...it was just some odd snippets he had overheard about the Conte Foscari and some cannons that were being cast...no big deal, but maybe it would mean something to Cristofoli.

Mercury involuntarily sighed, squared his shoulders, and resolutely strolled into the main entranceway of the Sbirri headquarters.

When he came out a short while later, he felt considerably better than he had. Things were looking up. That smarmy little weasel he was reporting to had seemed very interested in the cannon story..and of course Mercury had embellished things only slightly to make for an enhanced, more dramatic narrative.

It felt about right: he had improved the story just enough to make the situation seem a bit more sinister...a bit more like there was something there. But at the same time, he had not gone overboard with the embellishments. If the story turned out to be something insignificant, it wouldn't seem like he had fabricated the whole thing. That was the trick: to get a nice mix of truth and artful embroidery, not unlike what worked well with certain ladies who were blessed with a tad more navetthan was good for them. He was feeling rather pleased with himself, and decided he deserved a little reward in the form of a drink or two at one of his favorite haunts.

In his enthusiasm to go collect his reward, he did not notice that he was being watched from across the street.There, in the shawdows by a fruit vendor's stall, was a figure that -- had Mercury been a little more observant at the time -- he would have easily recognized as someone he knew.

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Achille Giglio was reading some letters from the Padrone when he heard a key being inserted in the lock on the ancient door. Having decided it was unwise to return to the House of Foscari, He and Devi had established thier headquarters in a moldering little medieval house on a side street just off the Fondamente Nove, not far from the former Jesuit church of Santa Maria Assunta. Although he had a pretty good idea of who it was, Achille quietly stood up and moved to a darkened corner of the room that was at an angle to the door, and gently pulled the hammer of his blunderbuss back to full cock.

As he expected, Devi came in...and there was no one with her, so he unobtrusively let the hammer back to half cock and set it against the wall in the corner.

Devi took off her cloak and and threw it over the back of a chair and stood by the mantel, staring into the fire that was fighting a losing battle against the damp from the nearby lagoon that seemed to permeate everything in the vicinity.

You look thoughtful," said Achille. "I can tell you have learned something of interest...and perhaps of concern?

Devi still looked into the fire. Finally she spoke.

"Yes, I have...In fact, I have had a very interesting discussion, with Fiorino Pera.

Achille arched an eyebrow. Fiorino...you mean Fio, the apprentice from Rocca Sorrentina?

She nodded. The same.

A good fellow. And, I would think, a source for reliable and useful information, no?

Yes...certainly...and what he told me was indeed of both interest and concern. He was actually looking for me or the Contessa...to let us know that he and one of his friends had seen Mercury Gandt coming out of the offices of the Sbirri not terribly long ago. And it's not the first time, they have seen him there.

Now it was Achilles turn to look thoughtful. What did Fio offer in the way of details? Did Signor Gandt appear as if he had been locked up for awhile...any visible injuries...disheveled-looking and so on?

No...and that is what is of concern...he came out the front door, unescorted by guards, looking hale and hearty...dapper as ever...like he had just made a social call...

Achilles face showed no emotion whatsoever. Or a business call, he offered drily.

Devis eyes flashed with anger. Hes sold someone out. Or hes working for them now...or both. And I have a bad feeling who he has ..or is going to be trying to sell out.

Achille still looked remarkably unperturbed, which Devi found irritating for only a moment. She suddenly realized how much she preferred this kind of thoughtful, measured reaction, rather than the over-dramatic theatrics that most men she knew would have responded with. She laughed and asked sweetly,You are already cooking up a plan, aren't you?

There are a number of possibilities.," he replied. "But I assume you have a few ideas of your own, yes?

Oh, of course...my first thought was that we could see how well Signor Gandt can swim with some masonry blocks tied to his feet...but I am guessing you have something more subtle in mind?

Achille smiled a little. Well, as a matter of fact, I do think pushing him off the Fondamente Nove into the lagoon would be a wasted opportunity.... especially as Don Aldo has written me to let us know that he has got his hands on two low-level agents of the Sbirri down on la Rocca....he and the Conte are going to feed them with false intelligence and then arrange for them to make an escape...we could augment what those idiots have to say to their boss with some information through Don Mercurio.

Now it was Devis turn to smile a little. As long as we dont make things too complex...the best plans are simple ones.

Yes, of course. But we have the chance here to do something that not only could misdirect Cristofoli away from the Conte and his activities...we also might be able to buy some leverage to help us find out what happened to one of our friends...the sacristan at the old cathedral in Casserta, who is still missing.

And after that, THEN we can push Signor Gandt into the lagoon?

Achille sighed. The Padrone seems to have some inexplicable fondness for Don Mercurio...I do not entirely understand it, but hey, the Padrone usually knows what hes doing. I suspect he has some other role planned for Signor Gandt.