Part 83 (1/2)
”What does Alva have to do with Soto?”
”Miguel is his brother-in-law. So is Martin de Soto, who hauled timber and materials for bricks.”
”What service did Alva provide on the tunnel project?”
”None-on the surface, at least. He appears to be only involved in running the business affairs of Don Diego Velez, Marques de la Marche.” Elena's uncle, but my connection to Elena was a better kept secret the Inquisition's list of accused. ”Alva appears to have made himself a very rich man along with the Marques. The auditor says that whatever the Soto's are involved in, you will find Alva.”
”Your nemesis.”
”My tormentor. And now the don's. Don Julio believes that failure to follow his instructions and poor workmans.h.i.+p and materials caused the tunnel to collapse. But he has difficulty proving it.”
”He is accusing the ones who did the work of the misdeeds. Miguel Soto probably charged for ten workers for every one he provided. And his brother-in-law no doubt delivered half the bricks and timber he was paid for. If a scapegoat is ever needed, a converso will fall faster than anyone else. Soto and the others are blackening the don's name with their accusations about Judaism. There is no better way to destroy a man's life than to be dragged out of bed by familiars in the middle of the night.”
”We must do something to help the don,” I said.
”Unfortunately, this is not a matter that I can handle with a sword. The accusation has already been made, and to kill Soto would not remove it-to the contrary, it might raise more suspicion against Don Julio. We have to let the don know about the accusation so he is forewarned.”
”How are we to do that? Shall I tell him that you and I are now the printing masters for the Holy Office?”
Mateo found no humor in my joke. ”I suggest you dig deep into those tales you told on the street for your daily bread most of your life. Lying to a friend should not be difficult for a lepero.”
”I will tell him I was walking by the Holy Office and saw the list on the street where someone had dropped it.”
”Excellent. That is no more stupid a lie than any of the others you have used.” Mateo yawned and stretched. ”I think it is time to have that conversation with your friend Alva that I mentioned earlier.”
”How do you plan to get him to talk to us?”
”Kidnap him. Torture him.”
Don Julio looked up from the accusation list.
”You found this doc.u.ment on the street? You swear to me on the grave of your sainted mother?”
”Most a.s.suredly, Don.”
He threw the list into the fireplace and carefully stirred the ashes as it burned.
”Do not bother yourself about this. I have been accused twice before and nothing has come of it. The Holy Office will conduct an investigation and that can take years.”
”Is there nothing we can do?”
”Pray. Not for me, but for the tunnel. If the tunnel fails again, it will be a contest as to who will be first-the viceroy who would have me hanged or the Holy Office who would burn me.”
Busy with the printing of books banned by the Holy Office and the lists prepared by it, I left it to Mateo to devise a plan for the kidnapping of Ramon de Alva. Alva is not only a famous swordsman but rarely leaves his house unless surrounded by retainers, thus the plan must have the daring of El Cid and the genius of Machiavelli.
Working late at the print shop, I heard something drop at the back door. The door had a wooden slot in it that the previous owner, may he rest in peace, had used to receive orders from merchants when the shop was closed.