anner.bloodandgold(v2)-第86章
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was no great Venetian； no painter； no cleric； no poet； no alchemist； and certainly no member of the Grand Council of Venice。 On the contrary； he was a most strange sort of being； a scholar of the supernatural； a spy upon creatures such as me。
What could this mean？ What could this be？
At this point； meaning to confront him and terrify him； I came to the very edge of the roof garden and peered across the canal at him； and there I made out his stealthy shape； and how he meant to cloak himself； and how fearful yet fascinated he was。
Yes； he knew me to be a blood drinker。 Indeed； he had some name for me： vampire。 And he had been watching me for several years！ He had in fact glimpsed me in grand salons and ballrooms； so I might indeed write this off to my carelessness。 And on the night that I had first opened my house to the citizens of Venice； he had e。
All this his mind gave me rather easily without the young man realizing it； obviously； and then using the Mind Gift I sent a very direct message to him。
This is folly。 Interfere with me and you will surely die。 I won't give you a second warning。 Move away from my household。 Leave Venice。 Is it worth your life to know what you want to know of me？
I saw him visibly startled by the message。 And then to my pure shock I received a distinct mind message from him：
We mean you no harm。 We are scholars。 We offer understanding。 We offer shelter。 We watch and we are always here。
Then he gave way to utter fear and fled the roof。
With little difficulty I heard him make his way down the staircases through the palazzo and then I saw him e out into the canal and hail a gondola which took him away。 I had caught a good look at him as he stepped into the boat。 He was a tall man； lean and fair of skin； an Englishman； and he was dressed in severe clothes of black。 He was very frightened。 He did not even look up as the boat took him away。
I stood on the roof for a long time； feeling the blessed wind； and wondering in its silence； what I should do about this strange discovery。 I thought over his distinct message and the power of mind with which he'd sent it to me。
Scholars？ What sort of scholars？ And the other words。 How very remarkable indeed。
I cannot exaggerate how odd this was。
It struck me with full force that there had been moments in my long life when I would have found his message irresistible； so great had been my loneliness； so great had been my longing to be understood。
But now； with all of Venice receiving me into its finest pany； I did not feel such a thing。 I had Bianca when I wanted to ramble on about the work of Bellini or my beloved Botticelli。 I had Amadeo with whom to share my golden tomb。
Indeed； I was enjoying a Perfect Time。 I wondered if for every immortal there was a Perfect Time。 I wondered if it corresponded to the prime of life in mortals…those years when you are strongest and can see with the greatest clarity； those years when you can give your trust most truly to others； and seek to bring about a perfect happiness for yourself。
Botticelli； Bianca； Amadeo…these were the loves of my Perfect Time。
Nevertheless； it was a stunning promise； that which the young Englishman had made。 〃We offer understanding。 We offer shelter。 We watch and we are always here。〃
I resolved to ignore this； to see what came of it； not to allow it to impede me in the slightest as I enjoyed my life。
Yet in the weeks that followed I listened for this strange creature； this English scholar； and indeed； I kept a sharp lookout for him as we made our way through the usual lavish and dizzying social events。
I also went so far as to question Bianca about such a person； and to warn Vincenzo that such a man might attempt to engage him in conversation and that he must be very wise on that account。
Vincenzo shocked me。
The very fellow…a tall lean Englishman； young； but with pale gray hair…had already e calling。 He had questioned Vincenzo； Would his Master wish to purchase certain unusual books？
〃They were books of magic；〃 said Vincenzo； frightened that I would be angry。 〃I told him that he must bring the books if he meant to offer them to you； and leave them here for you to see。〃
〃Think back on it。 What more was said between you？〃
〃I told him you had many； many books already； that you visited the booksellers。 He 。。。 he saw the paintings in the portego。 He asked if these had been done by you。〃
I tried to make my voice forting。
〃And you told him that the paintings had been done by me； didn't you？〃
〃Yes； sir； I'm sorry； so very sorry if this was more than I should have said。 He wanted to purchase a painting。 I told him that no purchase could be made。〃
〃It doesn't matter。 Only be careful on account of this man。 Tell him nothing further。 And when you see him； report it at once to me。〃
I had turned to go when a question came to me and I turned to see my beloved Vincenzo in tears。 Of course I reassured him at once that he had served me perfectly； and told him he must worry about nothing。 But then I asked him：
〃Give me your impression of this man。 Was he good or bad？〃
〃Good； I think；〃 he said； 〃though what sort of magic he meant to sell； I don't know。 Yes； good； I would say so； very good； though why I say it I can't tell。 He had a kindness to him。 And he liked the paintings。 He praised them。 He was most polite and rather serious for one so young。 Rather studious。〃
〃It's quite enough；〃 I said。 And indeed it was。
I did not find the man though I searched the city。 And I had no fear。
Then two months later； I met； in the most auspicious circumstances； with the man himself。
It was at a luxurious banquet and I was seated at the table； among a great number of drunken Venetians watching the young people before us in their measured and leisurely dance。
The music was poignant； and the lamps were just brilliant enough to give the vast room the most enchanting glow。
There had been several fine spectacles before with acrobats and singers； and I think I was faintly dazed。
I know I was thinking again that this was my Perfect Time。 I meant to write it in my diary when I returned home。
As I sat at the table； I leant on my right elbow； my left hand playing idly with the rim of a cup from which I now and then pretended to drink。
And then and there appeared this Englishman； this scholar； at my left side。
〃Marius；〃 he said softly； and in full mand of classical Latin： 〃Count me a friend and not a meddler； I beg you。 I have watched you for a long time from afar。〃
I felt a deep shiver。 I was startled in the purest sense of the word。 I turned to look at him； and saw his sharp clear eyes fixed fearlessly on me。
Again there came that message； mentally； without words； from his mind quite confidently to my own：
We offer shelter。 We offer understanding。 We are scholars。 We watch and we are always here。
Once again a deep shiver stole over me。 All the pany round was blind to me； but this one saw。 This one knew。
Now he passed to me a round gold coin。 On it was stamped one word：
Talamasca
I looked it over； concealing my plex shock； and then I asked politely in the same classical Latin：
〃What does it mean？〃
〃We are an Order；〃 he said； his Latin effortless and charming。 〃That is our name。 We are the Talamasca。 We are so old we don't know our origins and why we are so called。〃 He spoke calmly。 〃But our purpose in every generation is clear。 We have our rules and our traditions。 We watch those whom others despise and persecute。 We know secrets that even the most superstitious of men refuse to believe。〃
His voice and his manners were very elegant； but the power of the mind behind his words was quite strong。 His self…possession was stunning。 He could not have been more than twenty。
〃How did you find me？〃 I demanded。
〃We watch at all times；〃 he said gently； ''and we saw you when you lifted your red cloak； as it were； and stepped into the light of torches and the light of rooms such as this。〃
〃Ah； so； it began for you then in Venice；〃 I said。 〃I have blundered。〃
〃
