Page 284 - The Grotesque Children's Book

Surprisingly, Allori was not unsympathetic, saying “You’re not in this alone, Santi.
Don’t you think I, too, am painting as quickly as I can? I’m frightened to death the Duke won’t
pay us what he owes us if we don’t finish by that October 1st deadline. And then it’s starvation
not only for you and me, dear Santi, but for my wife and my children. You don’t think I’m
panicking, too?”

Nine children!, thought Santi with a shudder. Poor man. And though he kept painting at
a furious pace, Santi know it was not going to be speedy enough. So he began to formulate a
plan to get himself and his father more money. A desperate plan; a foolish plan. And it involved
Tozzo. Drunken, drooling Tozzo.

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