Page 322 - The Grotesque Children's Book

Allori continued, “And once I have them, Santi, I’ll be the one who would get caught, not
you.”

“You could blame me.”

“I suppose I could. But how would that help my case? I’d be the one in possession of
the jewels, trying to sell them. Would they make my sentencing all the harsher if I tried to blame
the crime on you instead of facing justice myself? It would be in my best interests not to blame
you.”

“Tell me again why you can’t steal them?”

“Her Grace and the ladies-in-waiting would all be watching me. I couldn’t possibly get
away with it. Whereas if you come in with pigments and cloths, I could unfold one of the cloths
and hold it up as if to inspect it, and at that very moment, while their view is blocked, you’re
hidden from view, so you could open the box’s drawers, take what you can slip between the
other cloths you’re carrying, and close the drawers. Then I’ll lower my cloth, pronounce it
satisfactory, and send you away with the rest.”

Santi couldn’t see any holes in the scheme, which is precisely why he thought it must be
entirely full of holes. He knew Allori couldn’t possibly have his lowly apprentice’s best interest
at heart; he knew the horrible end of this story: Santi, swinging from a gallows while Allori has
quietly secreted away a nest of illicit cash. Plus, Allori was being far too friendly and open with
him. (“You don’t have to steal the jewels...I would understand....”) The whole thing felt
dangerous and duplicitous.

Which is why Santi agreed to it. His reasoning was as follows. If he refused, Allori
wouldn’t hesitate to have him killed on the grounds of plotting treasonous thievery. Whereas if
he agreed to it, he might find ways to forestall the theft, or perhaps even to end up with the
jewels himself. (“I panicked, Master Allori; I froze. And by the time you lowered the cloth it
was too late. I didn’t get any of the jewels. I’m sorry!” Then later, perhaps to the carabineri or
the duke, Santi might find the courage to say: “Here are all of the jewels. Master Allori forced
me to steal them. Take them back. He’s your man.” Neither of those schemes seemed exactly
foolproof, but Santi didn’t need a scheme right now; he just needed to make Allori think they
were in business together, so as to buy himself some time to think and plot.)

Santi said in a trembling voice, “Let me think about it. But yes. If all I have to do is hide
some jewels in a cloth and bring them to you that night, I, I think I would risk doing that in
exchange for the possibility of two or three thousand florin.”

“Excellent. Drink up, Santi. I’ll pay for this round.”

“No. I’m going back to my father. Good night, Signore Allori.”

It was all so very distasteful.

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