He talked of Hanover and his work in Rome and while he talked, Pergami came in.
‘This is Baron d’Ompteda, my dear,’ said Caroline. ‘Dear Baron you must meet Baron Bartolomeo Pergami, who is my guide, comforter and very good friend. ‘Tis so, is it not, my dear? He looks after my affairs so beautifully. Come sit down and talk with us. Baron d’Ompteda has had such an interesting life!’
The greatest success, thought the Baron. Why she makes no secret of the relationship. She even asks him to sit down. She must be besotted— or crazy. And Pergami? Yes, he behaved with a proprietorial air. There was no doubt about it. He was her lover. It was going to be easiest possible case to prove.
She sent for refreshment.
Good God, thought d’Ompteda, is he going to be allowed to drink with us? ‘Theodore, bring us wine,’ she commanded.
The man bowed.
‘A very good servant,’ she said before he was out of earshot. ‘Theodore Majocchi. Such a nice fellow! So willing and so grateful to be taken into my household. Many of my English servants have left me, Baron, but I have been well served by Italians and I have found the country so hospitable. Though I intend to leave it for a while. My dear Baron Pergami is working a detailed plan for us to travel in the East.’
‘And Baron Pergami will accompany you, Madam?’
She laughed at Pergami who returned her smile. ‘Now he is not suggesting that I should go without you, my dear!’
‘It would be impossible,’ said Pergami.
Why, thought d’Ompteda, they are admitting it! My task will be done in a week. But he was mistaken. His orders had been: Optical Evidence. This meant that he must see the Princess and Pergami in bed together, or at least some reliable person must.
Two or three weeks passed and still he had not found what he must have. He had artfully questioned the servants and although they were ready to admit that the Princess’s conduct was very strange, no one could actually say that he or she had tangible evidence of misconduct.
Caroline left with her household for the Villa d’Este and d’Ompteda followed them there. After all his present business lay with Caroline. It was ridiculous. It seemed to him so obvious but where could he find the tangible evidence he sought?
She was free and easy in her manners. She had been to a ball, during her journey through Italy, dressed as Venus— naked from the waist. This had shocked many but she had danced merrily with numerous men in her semi-nude condition. She was immensely proud of her bosom and saw no reason why she should hide her greatest beauty. There was a great deal of gossip about that costume; there was talk about the manner in which she rode about the town, how she would now and then cook a meal and sup alone with Pergami; how he was allowed to talk to her when she was in the bath; how when he was ill she had made him a posset and sat on his bed talking to him, that she had been alone in the bedroom for some time and was still sitting on the bed when servants entered the room.
All this— but it was not optical evidence. And that was what he must find.
Quite clearly he must enlist the help of her household and he looked round for suitable people.
First there was the manservant, Theodore Majocchi. He had discovered that before he came to serve the Princess he had worked for Count Pino and had been dismissed from his household for stealing. Perhaps a bribe would tempt him.
Maurice Credé was perhaps a better subject because he was in a higher position and would be easier to talk to. He had seen that Credé was an ambitious man; he was rather fond of the woman, it was true, and was actually conducting a liaison with one of the women. That might be useful. The woman might have easy access to the Princess’s sleeping apartments.
He would keep his eyes on the woman named Annette and there was another who seemed more intelligent, Louise Dermont.
He had selected his tools; now he would get to work. The Princess was leaving for the East in a week or so. He must get evidence before she left because, through Lord Stewart, he was being made aware of the Regent’s impatience.
He encountered Maurice Credé in the grounds of the Villa d’Este and told him that he wished to speak to him secretly. Credé looked surprised that such an important person as the Baron should wish for his company, but as he was ambitious and always looking for advancement he was flattered.
‘If you would come to my room, my lord Baron, we could talk there in comfort.’
Shortly afterwards the Baron went to Credé’s room where he found the young man waiting.
‘You must have a great deal of information as to how life goes on in the Villa,’ began the Baron with a faint leer.
‘My lord?’
‘The Princess is rather free in her manners, is she not? I mean there must be few secrets which are known to the members of her household.’
‘The Princess is a very friendly lady. She is kind and generous to us all.’
‘I don’t doubt that she pays you well to keep her secrets.’
‘I do not understand.’
The Baron laughed.
‘Well scarcely secrets. Who does not know that Pergami is her lover?’
Credé looked startled. ‘I cannot say—’
‘Can you not? Is it not obvious. Is he not in and out of her bedroom and she in and out of his? Is he not present when she takes a bath— even alone with her? Oh come, my friend, you are not so innocent as to suppose there is nothing in their relationship but that between a princess and her chamberlain.’
‘I do not understand what you want of me.’
‘Then I will tell you. I want evidence of the Princess’s misconduct with Pergami.’
‘From me, my—’
‘I mean to get it with your help.’
‘But how—’
‘There are keys to the Princess’s apartments. I want these keys. I want to have a witness in her bedroom who can testify to her misconduct.’
‘Who are you?’
‘That is no concern of yours. You will get those keys for me, and be paid well for your work. Not only will you be paid but the work you do for me can bring you recognition in high places.’
‘I— I cannot do this,’ stammered Credé.
‘You are a fool. Why not?’
‘The Princess has been a good mistress to me.’
‘You will find even better masters.’
‘I am sorry. You must look elsewhere for your— accomplices.’
‘And you— like the good faithful servant you are, will consider it your duty to report this conversation to your mistress ?’
‘I— I—’
‘Ah, you hesitate! You show wisdom at last. I have been discovering certain details about you, my dear Credé. There have been little adventures with one of the women here. Little Annette is charming, charming— I agree with you. And there have been too many kisses in dark corners, too much scurrying along corridors in the dead of night. You see, your honour extends only in certain directions. I should see you not want to have to disillusion those who have a high opinion of you but—’
‘You mean you will betray me if I do not work with you, if I do not get those keys?’
D’Ompteda nodded slowly.
‘You have the keys?’ asked d’Ompteda.
‘Not yet,’ replied Credé. ‘I must await my opportunity.’
‘You fool. She sails in two days’ time.’
‘That is what makes it so difficult. In any case, Pergami is scarcely ever in her apartments. He is so busy arranging for the departure of the Leviathan.’