Page 311 - The Grotesque Children's Book

“Yes, but a fair one. If I’m to plant poison in someone’s office, I need to know the
reason why.”

“The reason why is that if you don’t, I’ll announce your lazuli trafficking and you’ll be
ruined.”

“And if I do this? If I hide the arsenic and ask no questions?”
“Then I’ll have the double insurance you’ll pay me back my loan on time. I’ll have
firsthand knowledge of both your sins: your lazuli, and also planting false evidence. I’ll own
you, Allesandro. So, ten percent, eight percent, it doesn’t really matter to me. We could make it
seven percent.”
“Shall we?”
“We shall. You’ll have your money just as soon as you hide that poison in Valerius’s
office.”
“Hide it anywhere?”
“Anywhere. Just tell me where, so that it can be ‘discovered’ at exactly the right time.”
“Politics. Dirty politics.”
“Actually, in this case, fairly clean politics. A favor for the Duchess.”
“I don’t want to know.”
“No, Allesandro, with your nine children, you don’t want to know.” Nine children,
thought Zaccario. Poor man.

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