p&c.brimstone-第88节

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ld　mobilize　and　move　in。　Blood　would　be　up；　and　he'd　meet　immediate　resistance。　By　the　time　they　reached　her　。　。　。　God；　she　didn't　have　ten　minutes；　she　didn't　even　have　five。　
　The　only　one　who　could　control　this　crowd　was　Buck；　and　he　was　in　his　tent。　
　She　backed　up；　turning　in　a　slow　circle。　The　crowd　was　so　thick　she　couldn't　even　see　his　tent　anymore。　And　she　was　being　pushed　away　from　it；　as　if　the　crowd　wanted　to　keep　the　unpleasantness　of　what　was　to　e　away　from　him。　Taunts　and　chanting　rose　from　all　sides。　
　She　searched　her　mind　desperately　for　something　useful　from　her　training。　Crowd　psychology　was　something　that　interested　her；　especially　after　the　Wisher　Riots　a　few　years　back。　Problem　was；　an　angry　crowd　did　not　behave　like　a　normal　human　being。　A　crowd　did　not　respond　to　the　cues　of　body　language。　A　crowd　did　not　listen　to　anything　except　itself。　You　could　not　reason　with　a　crowd。　A　crowd　would　enthusiastically　mit　an　act　of　violence　no　single　member　would　normally　condone。　
　〃Centurion！〃　Todd　had　taken　another　step　forward；　emboldened；　the　crowd　consolidating　behind　him。　Hysterically　angry。　They　weren't　going　to　hurt　her…they　were　going　to　kill　her。　
　〃Buck！〃　she　shouted；　turning；　but　it　was　hopeless；　he　couldn't　hear　over　the　taunts　of　the　crowd。　
　She　faced　them　again。　〃You　call　yourselves　Christians？〃　she　screamed。　〃Look　at　you！〃　
　Wrong　move。　It　just　pushed　their　anger　up　a　notch。　But　it　was　all　she　had　left。　
　〃Ever　heard　of　turning　the　other　cheek？　Loving　thy　neighbor…〃　
　〃Blasphemer！〃　Todd　shook　his　rock；　the　crowd　flowing　with　him。　
　She　was　really　frightened　now。　She　took　a　step　back；　felt　herself　shoved　from　behind。　Her　voice　cracked。　〃In　the　Bible；　it　says…〃　
　〃She's　blaspheming　the　Bible！〃　
　〃You　hear　her？〃　
　〃Shut　her　up！〃　
　A　dead　end。Hayward　knew　she　was　out　of　time。　She　had　to　figure　out　something　before　the　stones　came　raining　down。　Once　the　first　was　thrown；　it　wouldn't　stop　until　it　was　over。　
　The　problem　was；　she'd　exhausted　all　her　options。　There　was　nothing　left　to　do。　
　Nothing。　
　　　
　77　
　
　At　five　minutes　to　nine；　D'Agosta　turned　from　the　window　tosee　Pendergast　rising　calmly　from　the　sofa；　where　he　had　been　lying　motionless　for　the　past　half　hour。　Earlier；　the　agent　had　established　he　could　open　the　door　with　his　lock…picking　tools；　but　he　seemed　uninterested　in　exploring；　so　he'd　relocked　it　and　they　had　waited。　
　〃Good　nap？〃　He　wondered　how　Pendergast　could　sleep　at　a　time　like　this。　He　felt　so　keyed　up　it　seemed　he'd　never　be　able　to　sleep　again。　
　〃I　wasn't　napping；　Vincent…I　was　thinking。〃　
　〃Yeah。　So　was　I。　Like　how　are　we　going　to　get　out　of　this　place？〃　
　〃Surely　you　don't　think　I　have　brought　us　in　here　without　a　well…conceived　plan　of　departure？　And　if　my　plan　does　not　work；　I　am　a　great　believer　in　improvisation。〃　
　〃Improvisation？　I　don't　like　the　sound　of　that。〃　
　〃These　old　castles　are　full　of　holes。　One　way　or　another　we'll　escape　with　the　evidence　we　need　and　return　with　reinforcements。　Reinforcements　that　will　only　be　convinced　by　the　evidence。　ing　here；　Vincent；was　our　only　option…aside　from　giving　up。〃　
　〃That's　not　an　option　in　my　book。〃　
　〃Nor　in　mine。〃　
　There　was　a　knock　at　the　door。　It　opened　and　Pinketts　stood　there；　in　full　livery。　D'Agosta's　hand　drifted　toward　his　service　piece。　
　Pinketts　gave　a　slight　bow　and　said；　in　his　plummy　English；　〃Dinner　is　served。〃　
　They　followed　him　back　down　the　staircase　and　through　a　series　of　rooms　and　passageways　to　the　diningsalotto　。　It　was　a　cheerful　space；　painted　yellow；　with　a　high　vaulted　ceiling。　The　table　had　been　laid　with　silver　and　plate；　an　arrangement　of　fresh　roses　in　the　middle。　There　were　three　places　set。　
　Fosco　was　standing　at　the　far　end　of　the　room；　where　a　small　fire　burned　in　the　grate　of　an　enormous　stone　fireplace；　surmounted　with　a　carved　coat　of　arms。　He　turned　quickly；　a　little　white　mouse　scampering　over　his　fat　hand　and　running　up　his　sleeve。　
　〃Wele。〃　He　put　the　mouse　away　in　a　small　wire　pagoda。　〃Mr。　Pendergast；　you　will　sit　here；　on　my　right；　Mr。　D'Agosta　on　my　left；　if　you　please。〃　
　D'Agosta　seated　himself；　edging　his　chair　away　from　Fosco。　The　count　had　always　given　him　the　creeps；　now　he　could　hardly　stand　to　be　in　the　same　room。　The　man　was　a　fiend。　
　〃A　littleprosecco　？　It　is　my　own。〃　
　Both　men　shook　their　heads。　Fosco　shrugged。　Pinketts　filled　his　glass　with　the　wine；　and　the　count　raised　it。　
　〃To　the　Stormcloud；〃　he　said。　〃Pity　you　can't　toast。　Have　some　water；　at　least。〃　
　〃Sergeant　D'Agosta　and　I　are　abstaining　tonight；〃　replied　Pendergast。　
　〃I　have　prepared　a　marvelous　repast。〃　He　drained　the　glass　and；　on　cue；　Pinketts　brought　out　a　platter　heaped　with　what　looked　to　D'Agosta　like　cold　cuts。　
　〃Affettati　misti　toscani；〃said　Fosco。　〃Prosciutto　from　boar　taken　on　the　estate；　shot　by　myself；　in　fact。　Won't　you　try　some？Finocchiona　andsoprassata　；　also　from　the　estate。〃　
　〃No；　thank　you。〃　
　〃Mr。　D'Agosta？〃　
　D'Agosta　didn't　answer。　
　〃Pity　we　don't　have　a　dwarf　handy　to　taste　the　food。　I　so　dislike　eating　alone。〃　
　Pendergast　leaned　forward。　〃Shall　we　leave　the　dinner　aside；　Fosco；　and　settle　the　business　at　hand？　Sergeant　D'Agosta　and　I　cannot　stay　the　night。〃　
　〃But　I　insist。〃　
　〃Your　insistence　means　nothing。　We　will　go　when　we　choose。〃　
　〃You　will　not　be　leaving…tonight；　or　any　other　night；　for　that　matter。　I　suggest　you　eat。　It　will　be　your　last　meal。　Don't　worry；　it　isn't　poisoned。　I　have　a　much　cleverer　fate　in　mind　for　you　both。〃　
　This　was　greeted　by　silence。　
　Pinketts　came　and　poured　a　glass　of　red　wine。　The　count　swirled　it　in　his　glass；　tasted　it；　nodded。　Then　he　looked　at　Pendergast。　〃When　did　you　realize　it　was　me？〃　
　Pendergast's　reply；　when　it　came；　was　slow。　〃I　found　a　fragment　of　horsehair　at　the　site　of　Bullard's　murder。　I　knew　it　came　from　a　violin　bow。　At　that　point；　I　recalled　the　name　of　Bullard's　boat：　theStormcloud　。　It　all　came　together：　I　realized　then　that　this　case　was　merely　a　sordid　attempt　at　theft　through　murder　and　intimidation。　My　thoughts　naturally　turned　to　you…although　I'd　long　been　sure　the　business　went　beyond　Bullard。〃　
　〃Clever。　I　didn't　expect　you　to　put　it　together　so　quickly…hence　the　unseemly　rush　to　kill　the　old　priest。　I　regret　that　more　than　I　can　say。　It　was　unnecessary；　stupid。　I　had　a　momentary　panic。〃　
　〃'Unnecessary'？〃　snapped　D'Agosta。　〃'Stupid'？　We're　talking　about　murdering　another　human　being　here。〃　
　〃Spare　me　the　moral　absolutism。〃　Fosco　sipped　his　wine；　folded　a　piece　of　prosciutto　onto　his　fork；　ate　it；　recovered　his　good　humor。　He　glanced　back　at　Pendergast。　〃As　for　me；　I　knew　you　were　going　to　be　a　problem　within　five　minutes　of　encountering　you。　Who'd　have　expected　a　man　like　you　would　go　into　law　enforcement？〃　
　When　he　didn't　receive　an　answer；　he　raised　his　glass　in　another　toast。　〃From　the　very　first　time　I　met　you；　I　knew　that　I　would　have　to　kill　you。　And　here　we　are。〃　
　He　took　a　sip；　set　down　the　glass。　〃I　had　hoped　that　idiot　Bullard　would　pull　it　off。　But；　of　course；　he　failed。〃　
　〃You　put　him　up　to　that；　naturally。〃　
　〃Let　us　just　say　that；　in　his　frightened　condition；　he　was　susceptible　to　suggestion。　And　so　now　it　is　left　to　me。　But　first；　don't　you　think　you　should　congratulate　me　on　a　beautifully　executed　plan？　I　extracted　the　violin　from　Bullard。　And　as　you　know　well；　Mr。　Pendergast；　there　are　no　witnesses　or　physical　evidence　to　connect　me　to　the　murders。〃　
　〃You　have　the　violin。　Bullard　once　had　it。　That　can　be　established　beyond　the　shadow　of　a　doubt。〃　
　〃It　belongs　to　the　Fosco　family　by　legal　right。　I　still　have　the　bill　of　sale；　signed　by　Antonio　Stradivari　himself；　and　the　chain　of　ownership　is　beyond　question。　A　suitable　period　will　pass　following　Bullard's　death；　then　the　violin　will　surface　in　Rome。　I've　planned　it　down　to　the　last　detail。　I　will　make　my　claim；　pay　a　small　reward　to　the　lucky　shopkeeper；　and　it　will　e　to　me　free　and　clear。　Bullard　told　no　one　why　he　needed　to　remove　the　violin　from　his　laboratory；　not　even　the　people　at　his　pany。　How　could　he？〃　Fosco　issued　a　dry　chuckle。　〃So　you　see；　there　is　nothing；　Mr。　Pendergast；　no　evidence　at　all　against　me。　But　then；　I　have　always　been　a　most　fortunate　man　in　such　matters。〃　He　bit　off　a　piece　of　bread。　〃For　example；　there　is　an　extraordinary　coincidence　at　the　very　heart　of　this　affair。　Do　you　know　what　it　is？〃　
　〃I　can　guess。〃　
　〃On　October　31；　1974；　in　the　early　afternoon；　while　on　my　way　out　of　the　Biblioteca　Nazionale；　I　ran　into　a　group　of　callow　American　students。　You　know　the　type…they　throng　Florence　all　year　long。　It　was　the　afternoon　of　All　Hallows'　Eve…Halloween　to　them；　of　course…and　they'd　been　drinking　to　excess。　I　was　young　and　callow　myself；　and　I　found　them　so　astonishingly　vulgar　that　they　amused　me。　We　fell　in　for　the　moment。　At　some　point；　one　of　the　students…Jeremy　Grove　to　be　precise…went　on　a　tear　about　religion；　about　God　being　rubbish　for　the　weak　mind；　that　sort　of　thing。　The　sheer　arrogance　of　it　annoyed　me。　I　said　that　I　couldn't　speak　on　the　existence　of　God；　but　I　did　know　one　thing：　that　the　devil　existed。〃　
　Fosco　laughed　silently；　his　capacious　front　shaking。　
　〃They　all　roundly　den