Read Online The Blood of Alexandria by Richard Blake - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Richard Blake
Ads: Link
enough, Macarius spoke the flattened Greek of the natives, and it could be hard to tell between a statement and a question.
I took this as a question and nodded. ‘The subsidy was hidden away in the military pensions budget,’ I explained. ‘It seems to have been that way for three generations. But for Leontius, it might have continued another three.’
‘And I understand the Viceroy sealed your proclamation,’ Macarius said, ‘and this will be published tomorrow.’
I nodded again. Dinner had been a ghastly affair. It had begun with a reading from Saint John Chrysostom on the horrors of gluttony, and then proceeded, to an accompaniment of loud, twanging music, through about fifty inedible courses. It had culminated with the mice in lead sauce that had been the last year’s fashion in Constantinople. Missing out on the wine had been a bitch. But I’d sat beside the Patriarch, and had used the opportunity to match him in refusing all but bread and water.
To my annoyance, Priscus had struck up an immediate friendship with Leontius. They’d sat together deep in conversation as they drank their way through about a gallon each of wine. Afterwards, arm-in-arm, they’d staggered off together, doubtless to carry on till morning. So much for hoping the man might put the frighteners on Leontius!
Still, I’d got the proclamation out of Nicetas. Martin had brought it in, neatly written in perfect imitation of the local chancery style. Nicetas had sealed it without reading, then returned to pestering me and the Patriarch about the location of the soul between death and the Second Coming. It would be on the streets at dawn. Shortly after, it would be on a fast boat up river as close to Philae as could safely be reached.
If, shortly after, it might be floating back towards us, ripped and covered in shit, that was not a problem for me. All that mattered was the appearance of action here in Alexandria with the landed trash of Egypt. On the other hand, I’d seen to it that this Temple of Isis wouldn’t get another clipped copper out of the taxpayers.
‘Of course,’ I went on, ‘there’ll be no investigation. But it would be interesting to know how the subsidy continued so long without comment. And it would be most useful to know how Leontius came to hear about it – and how no one else in that assembly appeared to have known about it.’
I looked at Macarius. I wondered again how old he might be. Fifty? Seventy? It was hard to tell from those shrivelled features. He’d probably looked much the same since he was my age.
‘Did you not once tell me,’ I asked, ‘that you lived awhile in the south?’
‘I did live there,’ Macarius answered. I wanted to ask in what capacity. But he continued: ‘In Alexandria and in all areas touched by Greek influence, the dispute is between orthodoxy and heresy. Go far enough up river, and the Old Faith makes up a third party in the dispute. I find it hard to believe that anything so important as the cult of Isis at Philae could be maintained as publicly as Leontius claims. But many of the old temples are quietly kept going.’
‘So,’ I asked, coming back to the main business in hand, ‘how do you suppose the man got his information? Has he been sniffing round in the south?’
Macarius bowed slightly. ‘I shall be better able to answer your questions the day after tomorrow,’ he said. ‘All I can report for the moment is that Leontius has recently been enlarging his manor house at Letopolis. Bearing in mind that his estate is known to be encumbered with various debts left by his uncle, it may be asked where he obtained the money.’
‘Men can be very sensitive to news that their financial transactions are being watched,’ I said. ‘But I repeat, we are now willing to take a certain risk of discovery.’
‘I can assure you that Leontius has been under close surveillance since our earlier meeting,’ Macarius replied.
A sudden gust of wind brought a chill to my
I took this as a question and nodded. ‘The subsidy was hidden away in the military pensions budget,’ I explained. ‘It seems to have been that way for three generations. But for Leontius, it might have continued another three.’
‘And I understand the Viceroy sealed your proclamation,’ Macarius said, ‘and this will be published tomorrow.’
I nodded again. Dinner had been a ghastly affair. It had begun with a reading from Saint John Chrysostom on the horrors of gluttony, and then proceeded, to an accompaniment of loud, twanging music, through about fifty inedible courses. It had culminated with the mice in lead sauce that had been the last year’s fashion in Constantinople. Missing out on the wine had been a bitch. But I’d sat beside the Patriarch, and had used the opportunity to match him in refusing all but bread and water.
To my annoyance, Priscus had struck up an immediate friendship with Leontius. They’d sat together deep in conversation as they drank their way through about a gallon each of wine. Afterwards, arm-in-arm, they’d staggered off together, doubtless to carry on till morning. So much for hoping the man might put the frighteners on Leontius!
Still, I’d got the proclamation out of Nicetas. Martin had brought it in, neatly written in perfect imitation of the local chancery style. Nicetas had sealed it without reading, then returned to pestering me and the Patriarch about the location of the soul between death and the Second Coming. It would be on the streets at dawn. Shortly after, it would be on a fast boat up river as close to Philae as could safely be reached.
If, shortly after, it might be floating back towards us, ripped and covered in shit, that was not a problem for me. All that mattered was the appearance of action here in Alexandria with the landed trash of Egypt. On the other hand, I’d seen to it that this Temple of Isis wouldn’t get another clipped copper out of the taxpayers.
‘Of course,’ I went on, ‘there’ll be no investigation. But it would be interesting to know how the subsidy continued so long without comment. And it would be most useful to know how Leontius came to hear about it – and how no one else in that assembly appeared to have known about it.’
I looked at Macarius. I wondered again how old he might be. Fifty? Seventy? It was hard to tell from those shrivelled features. He’d probably looked much the same since he was my age.
‘Did you not once tell me,’ I asked, ‘that you lived awhile in the south?’
‘I did live there,’ Macarius answered. I wanted to ask in what capacity. But he continued: ‘In Alexandria and in all areas touched by Greek influence, the dispute is between orthodoxy and heresy. Go far enough up river, and the Old Faith makes up a third party in the dispute. I find it hard to believe that anything so important as the cult of Isis at Philae could be maintained as publicly as Leontius claims. But many of the old temples are quietly kept going.’
‘So,’ I asked, coming back to the main business in hand, ‘how do you suppose the man got his information? Has he been sniffing round in the south?’
Macarius bowed slightly. ‘I shall be better able to answer your questions the day after tomorrow,’ he said. ‘All I can report for the moment is that Leontius has recently been enlarging his manor house at Letopolis. Bearing in mind that his estate is known to be encumbered with various debts left by his uncle, it may be asked where he obtained the money.’
‘Men can be very sensitive to news that their financial transactions are being watched,’ I said. ‘But I repeat, we are now willing to take a certain risk of discovery.’
‘I can assure you that Leontius has been under close surveillance since our earlier meeting,’ Macarius replied.
A sudden gust of wind brought a chill to my
Similar Books
