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〃They were books of magic；〃 said Vincenzo； frightened that I would be angry。 〃I told him that he must bring the books if he meant to offer them to you； and leave them here for you to see。〃
〃Think back on it。 What more was said between you？〃
〃I told him you had many； many books already； that you visited the booksellers。 He 。。。 he saw the paintings in the portego。 He asked if these had been done by you。〃
I tried to make my voice forting。
〃And you told him that the paintings had been done by me； didn't you？〃
〃Yes； sir； I'm sorry； so very sorry if this was more than I should have said。 He wanted to purchase a painting。 I told him that no purchase could be made。〃
〃It doesn't matter。 Only be careful on account of this man。 Tell him nothing further。 And when you see him； report it at once to me。〃
I had turned to go when a question came to me and I turned to see my beloved Vincenzo in tears。 Of course I reassured him at once that he had served me perfectly； and told him he must worry about nothing。 But then I asked him：
〃Give me your impression of this man。 Was he good or bad？〃
〃Good； I think；〃 he said； 〃though what sort of magic he meant to sell； I don't know。 Yes； good； I would say so； very good； though why I say it I can't tell。 He had a kindness to him。 And he liked the paintings。 He praised them。 He was most polite and rather serious for one so young。 Rather studious。〃
〃It's quite enough；〃 I said。 And indeed it was。
I did not find the man though I searched the city。 And I had no fear。
Then two months later； I met； in the most auspicious circumstances； with the man himself。
It was at a luxurious banquet and I was seated at the table； among a great number of drunken Venetians watching the young people before us in their measured and leisurely dance。
The music was poignant； and the lamps were just brilliant enough to give the vast room the most enchanting glow。
There had been several fine spectacles before with acrobats and singers； and I think I was faintly dazed。
I know I was thinking again that this was my Perfect Time。 I meant to write it in my diary when I returned home。
As I sat at the table； I leant on my right elbow； my left hand playing idly with the rim of a cup from which I now and then pretended to drink。
And then and there appeared this Englishman； this scholar； at my left side。
〃Marius；〃 he said softly； and in full mand of classical Latin： 〃Count me a friend and not a meddler； I beg you。 I have watched you for a long time from afar。〃
I felt a deep shiver。 I was startled in the purest sense of the word。 I turned to look at him； and saw his sharp clear eyes fixed fearlessly on me。
Again there came that message； mentally； without words； from his mind quite confidently to my own：
We offer shelter。 We offer understanding。 We are scholars。 We watch and we are always here。
Once again a deep shiver stole over me。 All the pany round was blind to me； but this one saw。 This one knew。
Now he passed to me a round gold coin。 On it was stamped one word：
Talamasca
I looked it over； concealing my plex shock； and then I asked politely in the same classical Latin：
〃What does it mean？〃
〃We are an Order；〃 he said； his Latin effortless and charming。 〃That is our name。 We are the Talamasca。 We are so old we don't know our origins and why we are so called。〃 He spoke calmly。 〃But our purpose in every generation is clear。 We have our rules and our traditions。 We watch those whom others despise and persecute。 We know secrets that even the most superstitious of men refuse to believe。〃
His voice and his manners were very elegant； but the power of the mind behind his words was quite strong。 His self…possession was stunning。 He could not have been more than twenty。
〃How did you find me？〃 I demanded。
〃We watch at all times；〃 he said gently； ''and we saw you when you lifted your red cloak； as it were； and stepped into the light of torches and the light of rooms such as this。〃
〃Ah； so； it began for you then in Venice；〃 I said。 〃I have blundered。〃
〃Yes； here in Venice；〃 he said。 ''One of us saw you and wrote a letter to our Motherhouse in England； and I was dispatched to make certain of who and what you were。 Once I glimpsed you in your own house I knew it to be true。〃
I sat back and took his measure。 He had put on handsome velvet of a fawn color； and wore a cloak lined with miniver； and there were simple silver rings on his hands。 His pale ashen hair was long and bed plainly。 His eyes were as gray as his hair。 His forehead was high and bare of lines。 He seemed to be shining clean。
〃And what truth is this that you speak of？〃 I asked as gently as I could。 〃What is it that you know to be true of me？〃
〃You are a vampire； a blood drinker；〃 he said without flinching； his voice as polite as ever； his manner posed。 〃You've lived for centuries。 I can't know your age。 I don't presume to know。 I wish that you would tell me。 You have not blundered。 It is I who have e to greet you。〃
It was charming to be speaking in the old Latin。 And his eyes； reflecting the light of the lamps； were full of an honest excitement tempered only by his dignity。
〃I have e into your house when it was open；〃 he said。 〃I have accepted your hospitality。 Oh； what I would give to know how long you've lived； and what you have seen。〃
〃And what would you do with that intelligence？〃 I asked him； 〃If I did tell you such things？〃
〃mit it to our libraries。 Increase the knowledge。 Let it be known that what some say is legend is in fact truth。〃 He paused and then he said： 〃Magnificent truth。〃
〃Ah； but you have something to record even now； don't you？〃 I asked。 〃You can record that you have seen me here。〃
Quite deliberately I looked away from him and towards the dancers before us。 Then I looked back at him to see that he had followed； obediently； the direction of my gaze。
He watched Bianca as she made her circle in the carefully modulated dance； her hand clasped by that of Amadeo who smiled at her； the light glimmering on his cheek。 She seemed the girl again when the music played so very sweetly； and when Amadeo gazed on her with such approving eyes。
〃And what else do you see here？〃 I asked； 〃my fine scholar of the Talamasca？〃
〃Another；〃 he answered； his eyes returning to me without fear。 〃A beautiful boyish one； who was human when I first laid eyes on him； and now he dances with a young woman who may soon be transformed as well。〃
My heart beat furiously as I heard this。 My heart beat in my throat and in my ears。
But he laid no judgment down upon me。 On the contrary； he was without all judgment and for a moment I could do nothing but search his young mind to make certain this was true。
He shook his head gently。
〃Forgive me；〃 he said。 〃I have never been close to one such as you。〃 He was flushed suddenly。 〃I have never spoken to one such as you。 I pray I shall have time to mit to parchment what I've seen tonight； though I swear to you on my honor and on the honor of the Order that if you let me go from here alive I will write nothing until I reach England； and the words will never do you harm。〃
I shut the soft seductive music out of my hearing。 I thought only of his mind； and I searched it and found there nothing but what he had just said to me； and behind it； an Order of scholars as he had described it； a seeming wonder of men and women who wanted only to know； and not to destroy。
Indeed a dozen marvels presented themselves of shelter given to those who could genuinely read minds； and others who from the cards could somehow with uncanny accuracy predict fortunes； and some who might have been burnt as witches； and behind it libraries in which time…honored books of magic were stored。
It seemed quite impossible that in this Christian era； such a secular force could exist。
I reached down and picked up the gold coin with the engraved word； Talamasca。 I put it in one of my pockets； and then I took his hand。
He was fiercely afraid now。
〃Do you think I mean to kill you？〃 I asked gently。
〃No； I don't think you will do it；〃 he said。 〃But you see； I have studied you so long and with such love； I can't know。〃
〃Love； is it？〃 I asked。 〃How long has your Order known of creatures like us？〃 I asked。 I held his hand firmly。
His high clear forehead was suddenly creased by a small expressive frown。
〃Always； and I told you we are very old。〃
I thought on it for a long moment； holding on to his hand。 I searched his mind again； and found no lie in it。 I looked out at the young dancers moving decorously； and I let the music fill me once more as though this strange disturbance had never e about。
Then I released his hand slowly。
〃Go then；〃 I said； 〃leave Venice。 I give you a day and a night to do it。 For I would not have you here with me。〃
〃I understand；〃 he said gratefully。
〃You have watched me too long；〃 I said reprovingly。 But the reproof was really for myself。 〃I know that you have already written letters to your Motherhouse describing me。 I know because I would have done so if I we