p&c.brimstone-第106章

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ack　Gonfaloniers；　the　Cavaliers　of　the　Rose…there　are　many　others。〃　
　D'Agosta　nodded　silently。　
　〃Some　of　these　societies　take　themselves　extremely　seriously；　even　if　their　original　function　has　long　passed　and　all　that　remains　are　empty　observances　and　ceremonies。　The　count；　ing　from　one　of　the　most　ancient　families；　surely　belonged　by　hereditary　right　to　a　number　of　them。　I　e…mailed　Constance；　who　managed　to　unearth　several　possibilities。　I　followed　up　with　some　of　my　own　contacts　here　in　Italy。〃　
　〃When？〃　
　〃The　night　before　last。〃　
　〃And　here　I　thought　you　were　fast　asleep　in　your　hotel　suite。〃　
　〃Sleep　is　an　unfortunate　biological　requirement　that　both　wastes　time　and　leaves　one　vulnerable。　At　any　rate；　I　uncovered　hints　of　the　existence　of　the　itatus　Decimus；　the　pany　of　Ten。　It　was　a　group　of　assassins　formed　during　the　most　contentious　years　of　the　thirteenth　century；　long　before　the　Medici　came　to　power。　One　of　the　founders　of　the　order　was　a　French　baron　named　Hugo　d'Aquilanges；　who　brought　to　Florence　some　peculiar　manuscripts　full　of　the　dark　arts。　Using　these　manuscripts；　the　group　conjured　up　the　devil…or　so　they　believed…to　aid　in　their　midnight　assassinations。　They　swore　blood　secrecy　to　each　other；　and　any　violation　was　punishable　by　immediate　death。　The　cavaliere　Mantun　de　Ardaz　da　Fosco　was　another　of　the　founders；　he　passed　membership　with　the　title　to　his　son　and　so　forth；　down　to　our　Fosco。　Their　line；　apparently；　was　also　the　keeper　of　the　library　of　the　itatus。　It　was　these　ancient　documents　Fosco　used　in　conjuring　up　the　devil　for　Bullard　and　the　rest　on　All　Hallows'　Eve。　Whether　he　planned　to　use　those　documents　from　the　beginning；　I　can't　be　sure。　But　he　would　have　learned　Beckmann　could　read　Italian　and　that　Grove；　even　as　a　student；　was　knowledgeable　about　old　manuscripts。　Fosco　couldn't　pass　off　any　old　manuscript…it　had　to　be　the　real　thing。　I　believe　that　he　simply　could　not　resist　the　fun。　Of　course；　he　didn't　realize　at　the　time　what　it　meant…or　what　penalties　his　breach　of　secrecy　would　incur。　You　see；　members　aren't　inducted　into　the　order　until　they　reach　the　age　of　thirty。〃　
　〃But　you　still　haven't　explained　how　you　knew　Fosco　belonged。〃　
　〃The　research　indicated　that　when　the　hereditary　member　is　inducted　into　the　society；　he　is　marked　with　a　black　spot…a　tattoo；　really…using　a　bottle　of　ashes　from　the　corpse　of　Mantun　de　Ardaz；　who　was　drawn；　quartered；　and　burned　in　the　Piazza　della　Signoria　for　heresy。　This　black　spot　is　placed　directly　over　the　heart。〃　
　〃And　when　did　you　get　a　glimpse　ofthat　？〃　
　〃When　I　interviewed　him　at　the　Sherry　Netherland。　He　wore　an　open…necked　white　shirt。　Of　course；　at　the　time　I　didn't　understand　its　significance…it　merely　looked　like　a　large　mole。〃　
　〃But　you　remembered　it。〃　
　〃A　photographic　memory　can　be　quite　useful。〃　
　Abruptly；　Pendergast　motioned　for　D'Agosta　to　be　silent。　For　about　a　minute　they　waited；　motionless。　Then　D'Agosta　heard　footsteps；　a　soft　knock。　
　〃e　in；〃　Pendergast　said。　
　The　door　opened　and　Fosco　slipped　through；　followed　by　half　a　dozen　men　with　guns。　He　bowed。　〃Good　morning　to　you　both。　I　trust　you　passed　a　decent　night？〃　
　D'Agosta　did　not　reply。　
　〃And　how　was　your　night；　Count？〃　Pendergast　asked。　
　〃I　always　sleep　like　a　baby；　thank　you。〃　
　〃Funny　how　most　murderers　do。〃　
　Fosco　turned　to　D'Agosta。　〃You；　on　the　other　hand；　look　a　little　peaked；　Sergeant。　I　hope　you　haven't　caught　cold。〃　
　〃You　make　me　sick。〃　
　〃There's　no　accounting　for　taste；〃　Fosco　said　with　a　smile。　Then　he　glanced　back　at　Pendergast。　〃As　promised；　I've　considered　your　offer。　And　I　have　brought　you　my　riposte。〃　
　He　reached　inside　his　jacket　and　withdrew　a　smooth　white　envelope。　He　held　it　out　to　Pendergast；　eyes　twinkling。　
　D'Agosta　was　startled　to　see　Pendergast　go　pale　as　he　took　the　envelope。　
　〃That's　right。　The　very　letter　you　left　with　Prince　Maffei。　Unopened　and　unread。　I　believe　the　word　here　ischeck　；　Mr。　Pendergast。　Your　move。〃　
　〃How　did…？〃　D'Agosta　began。　Then　he　fell　silent。　
　Fosco　waved　his　hand。　〃Mr。　Pendergast　didn't　count　on　my　brilliance。　I　told　Prince　Maffei　that　my　castle　had　been　burglarized　and　that　I　was　concerned　for　the　safety　of　the　itatus's　most　secret　manuscript…which；　as　the　librarian　of　the　itatus；　I　of　course　had　in　my　possession。　I　asked　him　if　he　would　hold　it　himself　for　safekeeping　until　the　burglars　had　been　caught。　Naturally　he　took　me　to　his　most　secure　repository；　where　I　felt　sure　he　would　have　placed　your　letter。　I　didn't　know；　of　course；　what　you　had　said　to　him　about　the　letter；　so　I　felt　it　was　better　not　even　to　mention　it。　The　old　fool　opened　his　vault　to　put　in　the　manuscript；　and　there；　amidst　all　his　moldy　old　papers；　was　a　fresh；　crisp　envelope！　I　knew　it　had　to　be　yours。　A　quick　sleight　of　hand　and　the　letter　was　mine。　When　you　fail　to　return；　the　prince　Maffei　will　open　his　vault　and　find　nothing；　and　no　doubt　begin　to　worry　about　the　toll　old　age　is　taking　on　his　feeble　mind。〃　Fosco　laughed　silently；　his　capacious　front　shaking；　holding　out　the　envelope。　
　There　was　a　silence　as　Pendergast　stared　at　the　envelope。　Then　he　took　it；　opened　it；　glanced　at　the　sheet　inside；　and　let　it　fall　to　the　ground。　
　〃I　saidcheck；　but　perhaps　I　should　have　saidcheckmate　；　Mr。　Pendergast。〃　He　turned　to　the　men　standing　in　the　doorway。　They　were　dressed　in　rough　woolen　and　leather　clothing；　each　pointing　a　firearm。　Another　man；　in　a　stained　suede　jacket；　stood　behind　them。　He　had　a　small；　sharp　face　and　was　watching　them　with　intelligent　eyes。　
　D'Agosta's　hand　crept　toward　his　gun。　Pendergast　noticed；　made　a　brief　suppressing　motion。　
　〃That's　right；　D'Agosta。　Your　superior　knows　it　is　futile…only　in　the　movies　can　two　men　overpower　seven。　Of　course；　I　am　quite　willing　to　see　you　both　die　right　here　and　now。　But　then；〃　he　added　teasingly；　〃don't　lose　hope…there's　always　the　chance　you　might　escape！〃　He　chucked　and　turned。　〃Fabbri；　disarm　these　gentlemen。〃　
　The　man　in　the　leather　jacket　stepped　forward；　held　out　his　hand。　After　a　moment；　Pendergast　removed　his　backup　weapon　and　handed　it　to　him。　With　a　huge　sense　of　foreboding；　D'Agosta　reluctantly　gave　the　man　his　own　as　well。　
　〃Now　search　them；〃　said　the　count。　
　〃You　first；　Mr。　Pendergast；〃　Fabbri　said　in　a　heavily　accented　voice。　〃Remove　your　jacket　and　your　shirt。　Then　stand　over　there　with　your　arms　up。〃　
　Pendergast　did　as　ordered；　handing　each　article　of　clothing　to　Fabbri。　When　Pendergast　removed　his　shirt；　D'Agosta　noticed　for　the　first　time　that　the　agent　wore　a　chain　around　his　neck；　with　a　small　pendant　attached：　a　strange　design　of　a　lidless　eye　hovering　over　the　image　of　a　phoenix；　rising　from　the　ashes　of　a　fire。　
　One　of　the　peasants　shoved　Pendergast　toward　the　wall。　Fabbri　began　patting　him　down　expertly。　He　quickly　found　a　stiletto。　
　〃There　will　be　lock…picking　tools　as　well；〃　said　the　count。　
　Fabbri　searched　Pendergast's　collar　and　cuffs；　finally　removing　a　small　tool　kit　held　there　with　Velcro。　Other　things　appeared：　a　syringe　and　needle；　some　small　test　tubes。　
　〃You've　got　quite　an　arsenal　tucked　away　in　that　suit　of　yours；〃　Fosco　said。　〃Fabbri；　set　it　all　on　the　table　over　here；　if　you　please。〃　
　Removing　a　stitching　knife；　Fabbri　proceeded　to　cut　open　the　linings　of　Pendergast's　suit；　searching　them　thoroughly。　Out　came　other　items…tweezers；　some　small　folded　packets　of　chemicals…which　the　man　placed　on　the　table。　
　〃His　mouth。　Check　his　mouth。〃　
　The　man　opened　Pendergast's　mouth；　checked　his　teeth；　looked　under　his　tongue。　
　D'Agosta　recoiled　in　horror　at　this　indignity。　With　the　discovery　of　each　additional　tool；　he'd　felt　his　hopes　dim　further。　But　Pendergast　had　a　lot　of　tricks　up　his　sleeve。　He'd　get　them　out　of　this　somehow。　
　Fabbri　directed　Pendergast　to　step　to　one　side　and　bend　his　head　forward　so　he　could　search　his　hair。　Pendergast　plied；　his　arms　still　raised；　positioning　himself　so　he　was　facing　away　from　the　half…circle　of　men　and　the　count；　who　was　examining　the　items　on　the　table　with　murmurs　of　interest。　Now　Fabbri's　back　was　turned　to　D'Agosta；　while　Pendergast　was　facing　him。　And　D'Agosta　was　amazed　at　what　he　saw。　
　He　saw　Pendergast；　mov