town, she paced the carpeted floor, twisting her fingers.

Would Tilia be able to help, or would she be as powerless as Ugolini?
This journey across the city might be utterly futile, but Sophia, unable
to sleep and tormented by demon-inspired visions of what was happening
to Daoud, had to do something.

Tilia quickly appeared on the landing of the second floor gallery,
followed by Cassio, who held a candle. Despite her bulk, she seemed to
flow down the stairs in her trailing red silk gown.

"Quickly, tell me what has happened," she said. "For you to come this
late it must be disastroso." Her voice was calm but hoarse. Her face was
puffy and creased with deep wrinkles. She wore one piece of jewelry, her
bishop's cross.

"We had better talk alone," Sophia said. Tilia nodded. Riccardo was
already sitting on a couch in the entry hall with his eyes shut. Cassio
looked inquiringly at Tilia. His shoulder-length black hair, usually
well-combed and glossy, was a nest of unruly locks pointing every which
way.

"Give me the candle, Cassio," said Tilia. "Come up to my room, Sophia.
Your escort can wait here." She sighed. "A few weeks ago there would
have been clients waiting in this room even at this hour. Since the pope
left--" She waved a hand at the emptiness of the great chamber.

Sophia felt herself wanting to cling to Tilia, as if the short, fat
woman were her mother. A few months before she had felt nothing but
hatred for the brothel keeper because she had introduced Rachel into
whoredom. Now she prayed only that Tilia could help her.

Her bedroom was cool, the shutters of a large double window having been
swung open to let in the night air. Tilia sat on her wide bed, which was
covered with embroidered cushions and silk sheets that draped over the
four posts. Sophia went to the window and drew back the curtain to look
out. The street outside was dark and empty.

What was happening to Daoud in the Palazzo del Podesta? Were they
crippling his beautiful body? Was he dying? Dead? She felt like crying
at the thought of how they might be hurting him. But she could not help
him unless she kept her head.

Sophia quickly told Tilia about Daoud's arrest. Tilia lay back on the
bed, her beady eyes fixed on Sophia, and fingered the cross on her ample
bosom. Every so often she nodded, as if this were just what she had
expected.

She covered her eyes momentarily with her hand. "May God be kind to
Daoud ibn Abdallah. He is worth