I must have slept at last, for I was woken by Marta Penders knocking on my door while it was still dark. I called out my thanks and crawled reluctantly from beneath the warmth of my feather bed. Once I had donned my boots and doublet I caught up my cloak and ran downstairs. The Penders family, who never seemed to rest, were breaking their own fast in the parlour.
‘Come, Dr Alvarez,’ Niels said, ‘will you join us? There is plenty.’
I hesitated. I realised that it was still far too early to call on the Earl, so I thanked him and sat down to the usual Dutch breakfast of cold meats and several kinds of cheese, washed down, today, with hot spiced ale.
‘To keep out the cold,’ Marta explained, as she poured a generous measure for me. ‘The frost is harder than ever this morning. What will it be like in January?’
‘What indeed,’ I said. ‘Master Berden and I should be returning to England soon, but I fear we will have a cold journey of it.’
‘Indeed you will. I am glad I do not have to travel.’
I looked round at their friendly, uncomplicated faces. Things might go badly for them if serious hostilities were to break out between the two nations. I wanted to ask them what they knew of Parker and van Leyden, but such questions would be indiscreet, perhaps even dangerous.
Once outside I could see the first faint glimmer of light in the sky away to the east, and the darkness of night had thinned enough for me to find my way to the Earl’s house. The surface of the snow had frozen hard again, so that I had to watch my step. Several times I slipped and only saved myself from falling by catching hold of a tree or a wall. Once I did fall, sprawling full length in the snow and striking my shoulder hard against the projecting step of a house. It took a moment or two for me to get to my feet, for all the breath had been knocked out of me. My shoulder hurt and was probably bruised.
I reached the Earl’s house at last, feeling somewhat battered from my fall. As I had hoped, his servants were already astir. A maid was sweeping the front steps free of snow and through the archway at the side of the house I could hear activity in the stables. I perched on a bollard, used for mooring the canal boats, about twenty yards from the house, glad of the chance to sit down. From here I could see who came and went, and could judge, from the activity about the house, how soon it might be possible to call on the Earl. If I saw van Leyden arrive, I would go in at once, otherwise I would wait.
Time crawled by. There was no sign of van Leyden. Perhaps I had misunderstood what I had witnessed last night. Perhaps van Leyden was intending to poison someone, but not the Earl. When I saw that all the shutters of the house had been opened and a boy in military dress had been admitted, clearly carrying a satchel of despatches, I decided to approach and ask if I might see the Earl. By now the sun was up and the people of Amsterdam were busy about their affairs in the streets.
The same liveried servant admitted me and, recognising me, agreed at once to ask if the Earl would see me. He led me up the stairs as before and asked me to wait outside the door to the Earl’s private parlour while he went in. After a few moments he bowed me through. The Earl was seated at the dining table, facing me, while another man sat opposite him, his back toward me.
The Earl smiled politely. ‘Dr Alvarez, come in. Are you returning to England so soon? I thought it was to be at least another ten days before you leave us.’
I remembered that we had promised to call and see whether the Earl had any papers he wished us to carry. He must think that was why I was here.
‘My lord,’ I said, bowing, ‘Master Berden has not yet returned to Amsterdam, for I expect he has been delayed by the bad weather. We are not yet ready to leave. I wished to see you about another matter.’
I advanced further into the room and as I did so, the other man turned to look at me. It was van Leyden.
I was so shocked that I froze where I was. How could van Leyden be here? I had watched the house from before dawn. He had certainly not entered the house while I had been watching. Then the truth hit me with the physical force of a blow. Van Leyden must be living here. I knew that he acted as a go-between for the English and Dutch armies. What more natural than that he should be quartered in the Earl’s accommodation in Amsterdam? He must have come straight back here last night after he left the Prins Willem.
As I stood there, speechless, I felt the blood drain from my face, then flood back again. From my own medical knowledge I recognised it as a sign of shock. But I must not lose my nerve. I bowed to van Leyden, who returned my bow. There was nothing in his manner to suggest that he suspected me of any knowledge of his affairs.
‘My lord,’ I said again, ‘I would beg the opportunity to speak to you about a private matter.’ I tried not to catch van Leyden’s eye as I said it.
Leicester looked annoyed. It was clear that I had interrupted their meal and he had little time for importunate visitors at this early hour of the morning.
‘Can it not wait?’ He gestured brusquely at the table with its half consumed dishes. I wondered whether I was already too late.
‘I will take up only a few moments of your time, my lord.’ I bowed again, hoping my respectful and humble tone would assuage his annoyance.
He sighed deeply, wiped his mouth on his napkin and threw it down. ‘Very well. Van Leyden, you can fetch those papers you translated for me and we will discuss them when I have finished with Dr Alvarez.’
Van Leyden rose and bowed to Leicester. With his back to the Earl he gave me a venomous look, which I hoped sprang only from his interrupted meal and not the realisation of why I was here. As soon as he had left the room and I heard his footsteps ascending the stairs to the next floor, I stepped hurriedly nearer to Leicester and lowered my voice.
‘My lord, I believe I have stumbled upon a plot to poison you.’
At that Leicester sat up sharply, no longer looking irritated and bored. I recalled that there had been several attempts on his life before, so he was probably not surprised.
The words tumbled out in my haste to explain before van Leyden returned.
‘I have been warned about two men in Amsterdam who might be dangerous, then yesterday evening they were sitting in the inn where I am staying, the Prins Willem. They had their heads close together, not wanting to be overheard.’
‘Did you hear them?’ He snapped the words out.
‘They were speaking Dutch, my lord.’
‘Go on.’
‘One man passed a purse of coin to the other, then a small phial of liquid. In his haste he knocked it over and a little spilled on the table. They left soon after, but I wiped up the spill with my handkerchief.’ I took out my handkerchief and handed it to him. ‘It is belladonna. Deadly poison.’
‘What made you think it was intended for me?’ He took the handkerchief and looked at the stain, but did not smell or touch it.
‘The first man was Cornelius Parker, who has dealings with the Spanish and is not trusted by the merchant community here.’ I paused. ‘My lord, you may have realised that Master Berden and I were sent here because of your suspicions of treachery. I believe this is what I have discovered.’