Page 366 - The Grotesque Children's Book

Chapter 63.

Quite possibly the actual thief

Next the jewels.

The ladies-in-waiting discovered the missing jewels when they went to put them around
Carola’s neck for the next portrait sitting, but that turned out not to be immediate, for several
days passed between Santi’s disappearance and the next sitting. Not only was the Dragon
missing, but so were handfuls of pearls, rubies, diamonds, amethysts and any number of gold
beads, bracelets, necklaces and pins.

Allesandro Allori knew, of course, who had stolen the jewels: Santi del Meglio. Santi
had betrayed Allori and had stolen the jewels for himself. But until the jewels were officially
discovered, of course, Allori could not send a public alarm. When Santi had not shown up at the
Bow and Dart as planned, Allori knew immediately he had been betrayed, and the more time
which passed, the further away would get the jewels, until they were out of his grasp. Allori had
called for a sitting immediately upon Santi’s disappearance, that very morning, but the waiting
ladies, who controlled egress to Her Lady’s chambers said that they, the ladies, were occupied
with her Lady elsewhere, and Master Allori must wait for another day to have his painting
session. That day turned into two, into three, and still of course Allori could not sound a public
alarm. Imagine if he had said “One of my painters is missing! Someone must investigate to see
whether any of My Lady’s jewels are missing even though I myself, Allesandro Allori, would
have no reason to suspect any jewels might be missing; why would I think that? I didn’t take the
gems. How would I even have reason to think of them? Get your hands off me, you filthy
carabinieri! (sounds of his screaming receding across the Arno on his way to prison).” No. Best
stay quiet until they are discovered missing.

It wasn’t until the following Monday before the ladies permitted Allori and Carola to
conduct another session. When the first waiting lady discovered the theft, she innately felt the
gravity of the situation for her and her waiting companions. Unless they could identify a suspect
immediately, they themselves would be accused, sentenced, and hung. However, handily, there
were two suspects already in the room: the painter and the poser. One was clearly an ideal
victim and, in fact, quite possibly the actual thief. The third waiting lady explained to Carola in
very low hushed tones how things were to be. Carola was to allow herself to be accused and
arrested, in exchange for which the third lady would promise never to tell how she had seen
Carola slip the Red Dragon back into its place that one morning weeks ago. If Carola were
innocent of today’s crime, all the better for her. If she were guilty, then she deserved whatever
punishment which would levied upon her heaving bosom. The third waiting lady urged Carola
not to protest. “In a war of words,” she warned, “would our Lady Bianca believe her three
trusted ladies-in-waiting who have been with her for years, or would she believe the word of
some common tavern girl hired to pose for a portrait? Hmmm?”

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