Madama?" Ugolini asked. So, he had noticed it
too.

She sighed. "Yes, they and that boorish French cardinal left for Perugia
this morning, not long before you came. They chose a bad day to leave.
This morning's storm is not the end of the rain. Another storm is
coming. Every joint in my body aches."

"These storms clear the air," said Ugolini.

The contessa held up a sticklike finger. "Exactly as the storm yesterday
in the Piazza San Giovenale did."

Now she was bringing up her grievance, Sophia thought. Evidently she had
offended a number of cardinals with the massacre of the Filippeschi.

A servant brought a small table of some shiny black wood and set it in
their midst. Its legs were carved in the form of twisting, wingless
dragons. Perhaps it was a gift to the contessa from the Tartars. Sophia
had seen such furnishings in Constantinople and knew they came from the
distant East, where the Tartars ruled.

Another servant brought a tray with small sweet cakes filled with a
paste made of crushed white raisins. A third poured the pale yellow wine
of Orvieto into silver goblets for them. Sophia sipped her wine, but her
stomach churned with fear for Daoud, a fear held rigidly in check. She
could not drink much, and she could not eat at all.

Every so often she glanced at Vittorio di Monaldeschi, and each time she
did, she found his eyes fixed on her.

Ugolini wiped his mouth after finishing off a cake. "As Fortune's wheel
turns, all of us need friends at one time or another."

"How true," said the old lady.

"I come before you today to presume upon our friendship to ask you a
favor, Madama," said Ugolini.

"We need each other, as you have said, Your Eminence."

Sophia prayed that the contessa would agree to help.

Ugolini told how the podesta's men had arrested Daoud the previous
night. Sophia watched the contessa's face for some sign of sympathy, but
the old lady remained as expressionless as a bird.

"I am shocked that the podesta would arrest your houseguest," she said.
"But what can I do? After all, Signore d'Ucello holds the office because
he has our confidence."

_Which means that he stands aside while you murder your enemies._

Ugolini spread his hands. "Precisely because he has your confidence,
dear Madonna, I know he will listen to you. We have had no word of what
has become of our guest and friend."

"I want _everyone_ punished who had anything to do with the attack on my
palace," said the co