really have affection for their own dog which, however revolting it is, they believe far outshines any other dog in intelligence, affection and cuteness. The monkey proved far more effective. I had dressed him in a miniature version of my own clothes, a cream doublet with gold trim and padded breeches slashed with scarlet. Together we looked quite striking.
Once the slave had withdrawn to the far side of the courtyard and Dona Lúcia’s interest in feeding Pio was beginning to wane, I worked the conversation round to the reason for my visit. I told her I needed funds to equip a ship to sail to Goa, and I launched into a glowing description of all the riches she might garner for herself if she were to invest a modest amount in such a venture, which, I assured her, could not possibly fail.
‘Unless you have seen this wondrous isle with your own eyes as I have, Dona Lúcia, you would never believe the half of its treasures. It is with good reason that it is called Golden Goa. All the riches of the world are traded there – costly spices, precious stones from Burma, jewels from the crowns of princes, the finest silks, delicate plates from China, the very best glass from Venice, horses from Arabia, elephants from India. All of it just waiting to be loaded on to ships and brought back to Portugal to be sold here for four, five, even ten times what was paid for them. That is, of course, anything you did not want to keep for yourself.’
‘Do you really think I should keep an elephant?’ Dona Lúcia asked.
She gazed round the courtyard as if contemplating whether such a beast might be installed in here to frolic in the fountain and nibble at the clipped balls of orange trees in their tall, elegant urns. I tried not to let my exasperation show on my face. Why do women have to latch on to your most inconsequential remarks and ignore the important things?
‘I was merely explaining the variety of goods that are traded on this isle, Dona Lúcia. Naturally I would not be bringing back elephants. I would purchase rare spices, fine silks, delicate ornaments from China and beautiful jewels. The kinds of things that any wealthy Portuguese man would want to adorn his home and his charming wife.’
Her large bug eyes grew misty with tears. She looked down at the numerous rings glittering on her wrinkled fingers. ‘My late husband, God rest his sweet soul, often brought me jewels. He was such a fine man, Senhor Ricardo.’ She glanced up at me from under her heavy lids outlined with black kohl. ‘He looked just as handsome as you when we were first courting. But then, I was considered a great beauty in my time.’
‘ Was , Dona Lúcia? No, no, you must never say was . You are a beauty. Why, there isn’t a jewel in all the royal palaces in India that wouldn’t be eclipsed by the diamonds that sparkle in your eyes.’
She frowned. For a moment I thought I had gone too far and she thought I was mocking her. But then she favoured me with the kind of coquettish glance that must once have had men throwing themselves in front of charging bulls for her.
‘Do you really think so, Senhor Ricardo?’
We talked on about the venture, the length of the voyage, the equipping of such an expedition. I told her about the sturdy ship I had found, the Santa Dorothea – such a pious and blessed name – and described with fulsome praise the vast experience of her captain. Then finally I drew the conversation to its purpose – the considerable sum of money I would need to embark on such a voyage. Money that I assured her she could not invest in any venture more secure or profitable.
‘Why, on the last occasion I returned from Goa I made six times what I had put into the expedition and my only regret is that I was unable to invest more at that time, but now …’
Dona Lúcia frowned until the two strips of black mouse skin that she had stuck on over her own shaved eyebrows bumped noses in the middle of her forehead.
‘But what I don’t
Once the slave had withdrawn to the far side of the courtyard and Dona Lúcia’s interest in feeding Pio was beginning to wane, I worked the conversation round to the reason for my visit. I told her I needed funds to equip a ship to sail to Goa, and I launched into a glowing description of all the riches she might garner for herself if she were to invest a modest amount in such a venture, which, I assured her, could not possibly fail.
‘Unless you have seen this wondrous isle with your own eyes as I have, Dona Lúcia, you would never believe the half of its treasures. It is with good reason that it is called Golden Goa. All the riches of the world are traded there – costly spices, precious stones from Burma, jewels from the crowns of princes, the finest silks, delicate plates from China, the very best glass from Venice, horses from Arabia, elephants from India. All of it just waiting to be loaded on to ships and brought back to Portugal to be sold here for four, five, even ten times what was paid for them. That is, of course, anything you did not want to keep for yourself.’
‘Do you really think I should keep an elephant?’ Dona Lúcia asked.
She gazed round the courtyard as if contemplating whether such a beast might be installed in here to frolic in the fountain and nibble at the clipped balls of orange trees in their tall, elegant urns. I tried not to let my exasperation show on my face. Why do women have to latch on to your most inconsequential remarks and ignore the important things?
‘I was merely explaining the variety of goods that are traded on this isle, Dona Lúcia. Naturally I would not be bringing back elephants. I would purchase rare spices, fine silks, delicate ornaments from China and beautiful jewels. The kinds of things that any wealthy Portuguese man would want to adorn his home and his charming wife.’
Her large bug eyes grew misty with tears. She looked down at the numerous rings glittering on her wrinkled fingers. ‘My late husband, God rest his sweet soul, often brought me jewels. He was such a fine man, Senhor Ricardo.’ She glanced up at me from under her heavy lids outlined with black kohl. ‘He looked just as handsome as you when we were first courting. But then, I was considered a great beauty in my time.’
‘ Was , Dona Lúcia? No, no, you must never say was . You are a beauty. Why, there isn’t a jewel in all the royal palaces in India that wouldn’t be eclipsed by the diamonds that sparkle in your eyes.’
She frowned. For a moment I thought I had gone too far and she thought I was mocking her. But then she favoured me with the kind of coquettish glance that must once have had men throwing themselves in front of charging bulls for her.
‘Do you really think so, Senhor Ricardo?’
We talked on about the venture, the length of the voyage, the equipping of such an expedition. I told her about the sturdy ship I had found, the Santa Dorothea – such a pious and blessed name – and described with fulsome praise the vast experience of her captain. Then finally I drew the conversation to its purpose – the considerable sum of money I would need to embark on such a voyage. Money that I assured her she could not invest in any venture more secure or profitable.
‘Why, on the last occasion I returned from Goa I made six times what I had put into the expedition and my only regret is that I was unable to invest more at that time, but now …’
Dona Lúcia frowned until the two strips of black mouse skin that she had stuck on over her own shaved eyebrows bumped noses in the middle of her forehead.
‘But what I don’t
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