signore was very weak. He said he would remain there until he got better, then he would try once more to get to England.”
“That was what he wanted to do? Return to England?”
“He said it was imperative he should return to England without delay.”
If this were true, Don thought, it made nonsense of Sir Robert Graham’s theory that Tregarth had gone over to the other side. But how could he be certain it was the truth?
“What happened then? Did he get better?”
“No, signore, he did not get better. The house was damp. Louisa couldn’t get to see him to dress his wound as often as was necessary. Il signor Tregarth’s fever increased. Two days after he had left here, this man in the white hat came to see Rossi at the shop. Louisa recognized him from my description. Rossi knew Tregarth had once helped our family. This man Curizo - is that his name? - knew Tregarth had vanished near our house. It was simple then for him to suspect we knew where Tregarth was. From then on our house was watched, and Louisa had very great difficulty in seeing il signor Tregarth at all. She warned him that she was being watched. It was then he remembered you were coming to Venice. He had seen it in the newspaper. He wrote a postcard to his London business manager. He was afraid to write direct to his wife in case Louisa was caught posting the card and Curizo saw it. Did you receive the message, signore?”
“Yes. His wife brought it to me.”
“This took time. There was now no hope of moving il signor Tregarth; he was too ill. All we could do was to wait for you to come. One night, Curizo came to our house when Louisa was out. He searched it from top to bottom. There was nothing I could do, you understand? I was alone. When he couldn’t find il signor Tregarth, he left. He never said one word to me all the time he was in the house. I knew then the situation was now very dangerous for Louisa. I begged her not to go near il signor Tregarth, but she said she couldn’t desert him. She went to work the next morning, and that was the last time I saw her. Late last night, the police came to tell me she was dead.”
“Do you think Tregarth has escaped?” Don asked.
“I don’t know. I think it is very unlikely.”
“And you have no idea why these people are so anxious to find him?”
“No, signore, I have no idea.”
“I must continue to look for him,” Don said. “I will keep in touch with you. You have no one now to care for you?”
The old man shook his head.
“No one, signore.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll fix something for you immediately. Your daughter helped my friend; you won’t refuse my help, will you?”
The old man shrugged.
“No, I must accept it, signore. I don’t wish it, but I have no choice.”
“I’ll get someone to come here and look after you,” Don said. “You must allow me to see you want for nothing.”
“It will not be for long,” Peccati returned. “I am old and very tired. Life meant something to me when Louisa was here. It means nothing to me now.” He offered his hand. “Thank you for coming, signore. If you wish to make me happy, find and punish those two men.”
“I promise you I’ll do that,” Don said, his face hardening. “I will see you again soon.”
It was growing dark as he left the house. Cautiously he paused to look to right and left, before he moved out of the shelter of the dark doorway. Then satisfied there was no one in sight, he slipped down the dark Calle that ran by the side of the house.
Seven: Rough House
A n hour later, Don was pacing impatiently up and down Giuseppe’s room. From time to time he looked at his watch, lit another cigarette and then continued his pacing. He was getting worried. Giuseppe should have been back half an hour ago. Had he run into trouble? Don again glanced at his watch. He would give him another five minutes, then he would go and look for him.
Three minutes crawled by, then Don heard the street door open, and a
“That was what he wanted to do? Return to England?”
“He said it was imperative he should return to England without delay.”
If this were true, Don thought, it made nonsense of Sir Robert Graham’s theory that Tregarth had gone over to the other side. But how could he be certain it was the truth?
“What happened then? Did he get better?”
“No, signore, he did not get better. The house was damp. Louisa couldn’t get to see him to dress his wound as often as was necessary. Il signor Tregarth’s fever increased. Two days after he had left here, this man in the white hat came to see Rossi at the shop. Louisa recognized him from my description. Rossi knew Tregarth had once helped our family. This man Curizo - is that his name? - knew Tregarth had vanished near our house. It was simple then for him to suspect we knew where Tregarth was. From then on our house was watched, and Louisa had very great difficulty in seeing il signor Tregarth at all. She warned him that she was being watched. It was then he remembered you were coming to Venice. He had seen it in the newspaper. He wrote a postcard to his London business manager. He was afraid to write direct to his wife in case Louisa was caught posting the card and Curizo saw it. Did you receive the message, signore?”
“Yes. His wife brought it to me.”
“This took time. There was now no hope of moving il signor Tregarth; he was too ill. All we could do was to wait for you to come. One night, Curizo came to our house when Louisa was out. He searched it from top to bottom. There was nothing I could do, you understand? I was alone. When he couldn’t find il signor Tregarth, he left. He never said one word to me all the time he was in the house. I knew then the situation was now very dangerous for Louisa. I begged her not to go near il signor Tregarth, but she said she couldn’t desert him. She went to work the next morning, and that was the last time I saw her. Late last night, the police came to tell me she was dead.”
“Do you think Tregarth has escaped?” Don asked.
“I don’t know. I think it is very unlikely.”
“And you have no idea why these people are so anxious to find him?”
“No, signore, I have no idea.”
“I must continue to look for him,” Don said. “I will keep in touch with you. You have no one now to care for you?”
The old man shook his head.
“No one, signore.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll fix something for you immediately. Your daughter helped my friend; you won’t refuse my help, will you?”
The old man shrugged.
“No, I must accept it, signore. I don’t wish it, but I have no choice.”
“I’ll get someone to come here and look after you,” Don said. “You must allow me to see you want for nothing.”
“It will not be for long,” Peccati returned. “I am old and very tired. Life meant something to me when Louisa was here. It means nothing to me now.” He offered his hand. “Thank you for coming, signore. If you wish to make me happy, find and punish those two men.”
“I promise you I’ll do that,” Don said, his face hardening. “I will see you again soon.”
It was growing dark as he left the house. Cautiously he paused to look to right and left, before he moved out of the shelter of the dark doorway. Then satisfied there was no one in sight, he slipped down the dark Calle that ran by the side of the house.
Seven: Rough House
A n hour later, Don was pacing impatiently up and down Giuseppe’s room. From time to time he looked at his watch, lit another cigarette and then continued his pacing. He was getting worried. Giuseppe should have been back half an hour ago. Had he run into trouble? Don again glanced at his watch. He would give him another five minutes, then he would go and look for him.
Three minutes crawled by, then Don heard the street door open, and a
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