1. The Painting

Marie had arrived in the capital of the Prussian Empire more than a year ago. Prince Sarzi, her current employer for whom she had to act as bodyguard, was quite a loner and did not like to attend the parties of the other nobles who, at first curious about the fact that a nobleman, even a prince, had come to live, had sent numerous requests to which a polite but firm reply had been made ‘Thank you but I cannot come’. This standard response to every invitation from high society after the first few weeks had put an end to the sending of these requests.

She and her protégé would only go out for tours of shops, bookshops, and the occasional auction of precious objects of which he was a collector. Marie had started speaking a little Italian to understand what her saviour was saying. He, on the other hand, was studying Portuguese and also German because his servant who was in charge of translating, a man named Di Luigi, was very well versed in languages, so teaching his master and bodyguard was an easy way to supplement his salary.

In the time span of his attendance as a bodyguard one thing was clear, the Prince he served must have been a collector of objects and books dealing with occult things, Marie like all seafaring people was a bit superstitious, but when she saw that he was collecting them and not studying or practising strange rituals she breathed a sigh of relief.

Exactly nine months and two weeks later, the Prince received a letter for a social evening at a minor nobleman's house where merchants with their stalls would also be present.

‘Who knows what kind of noble can be one who puts up merchants with stalls in his garden?’ thought Marie, while her protégé was having the invitation translated into Italian by Di Luigi. ‘Surely one who has a strange conception of nobility.’

While Di Luigi was reading, the Prince seemed interested and pulled out another letter that had arrived a few days earlier, but which, being in Italian, he had read himself. When the translator was sure of the procedure he asked if he could put this invitation in the fireplace with the others, both were astonished when he replied in an annoyed tone:

<< No Di Luigi to this one we will go. Remember that letter that arrived a few days ago? Well it seems that a contact of mine suggested that I go to this party, because there might be some interesting things there! Di Luigi have my maid prepare the dress for these social occasions...>>. Adding: << Marie you will come as my bodyguard okay? >>.

Marie nodded a little, also curious to see what the nobles' parties were like, considering that her boss never had a social life, it would at least be a way to pass the time and to browse the noble customs of this nation.

The days passed quickly and finally the group consisting of the translator, Marie and the Prince arrived at the villa of the host, Count Knyphausen. Di Luigi began with the usual introductions, and once the etiquette was over, the Prince began to wander not so much around the hall where the party was being held, but around the market place, where his contact had told him he would find what he might be interested in.