Baldini showed us more writings, some of them rather bawdy, and we enjoyed the novelty.
We returned to the forum where most of the excavation work was being done and halted in an open area. Brick buildings surrounded us, arches to nothing, columns forlorn and lonely.
Iwouldbring Gabriella and Peter here, I decided. I would have to find a more pleasant place for us to stay besides the nearby inn, which was fine for Grenville and me, but Grenville could likely find a house for us to let.
“Your knowledge of these sites is excellent,” I said to Baldini. “You are good to show us about.”
Baldini shrugged, trying to hide his pleased flush. “I have studied Herculaneum and Pompeii for many years. I have learned a bit about their pasts, and mine.”
“You are a scholar, you mean,” Grenville said. “I am surprised such a learned man as yourself has deigned to lead a band of ignorant tourists. But I am quite glad you did.”
“The conte, he asked it as a favor.” Baldini sounded surprised at Grenville’s amazement. “Of course, I wished to please him.”
I wondered if Trevisan funded his studies and Baldini had not wanted to refuse a patron’s request.
“He seems a hard man, if I may observe,” I said. “Though he was contrite he’d caused us trouble.”
“A hard man to those who do not know him,” Baldini returned. “He has the northern temperament, yet is erudite and knows much about ancient art. One of the foremost experts on it, I’d say. His knowledge of the Colosseum surpasses even mine, and I am an avid student. I will take you through that edifice if you have time when you return to Rome.”
“You admire him.” This puzzled me—I expected Baldini to be a reluctant toady, but he’d been warm and friendly to us and showed no animosity to Trevisan.
“I do indeed. A better gentleman, I have not met.”
“His behavior would suggest otherwise,” Grenville, as confounded as I, said.
Now Baldini turned a look of confusion to us. “Behavior? I confess he appears to not be the warmest of gentlemen, but I assure you—”
“They mean his nicking a bloke’s daughter,” Brewster interrupted, growing impatient with our hesitation. “Putting aside his own wife for a pretty girl to see him through old age.”
Baldini’s eyes widened in shock. “I beg your pardon, sir, but what are you saying? Conte Trevisan has not put aside his wife. He never would—he is devoted to her. If someone has told you he has left his contessa for a young woman, then that person is lying to you.”
Chapter10
Iregarded Baldini with some perplexity. “I assure you, I saw this with my own eyes. I met the young lady’s distressed father, and we burst into Trevisan’s home to free her. Hence his attempt to have me arrested, and you guiding us as recompense.”
Baldini’s dismay was unfeigned. “The conte said nothing of this to me. He indicated that he owed you a debt, which he would pay by sending me to entertain you. I gladly accepted.”
“’Tis the truth.” Brewster rested a massive hand on a column. “We went ’round to see the girl’s dad. He’s that unhappy his daughter’s head was turned by the conte’s riches. This conte met her in a church, and wooed her, like.”
“Met her in a church?” Baldini grew resolute. “No, I do not believe it. The conte, he is not one who fears God. He’s more like Bonaparte’s Frenchmen and their atheistic ways. He does not approve of thepowerof the church, in any case.”
Baldini lowered his voice, as though cardinals might swoop from the pagan streets and arrest him for this dissent.
I spread one hand. “I can only tell you what I saw, and what Signor Proietti has said to me. Do you know of Proietti?”
Baldini’s eyes held blank ignorance. “I have never heard of a Signor Proietti. The conte has spoken nothing of him.”
Grenville broke in, his tones soothing. “How often do you travel to Rome? Or meet with Conte Trevisan?”
“I have not seen him in some time,” Baldini had to admit. “He wrote to me and requested that I guide you—I did not see him in person. Only once since he has been in Rome have we met, and that was weeks ago. In the past, I have traveled to Milan, or he has met me in Napoli.”
“And you say he is learned about art?” I asked.
“Oh, yes.” Baldini’s approval returned. “He has studied it throughout his life, not collecting much himself, but advising others. He excels at knowing what a piece is worth and its provenance. The pope himself consults with the conte.”
Grenville’s brows rose. “Though he dislikes the church?”
“The conte makes no pretense regarding his feelings toward the papacy. But his expertise is such that those in the Vatican overlook this to consult with him on worldly matters.”
