Ugolini shook his head, whiskers fluttering. "Fra Tomasso is neutral and wants to stay that way." _But if I can, I intend to push Fra Tomasso away from his neutrality._ "Surely he could not have failed to be moved by what he heard last night," said Daoud. "I could see that he was." "It will take more than one incident to move Fra Tomasso," said Ugolini. _Now I have him!_ Daoud glanced at Lorenzo, who nodded encouragingly. Daoud leaned forward, pressing both hands on the table. "There! You yourself have said the very thing I have been trying to tell you. Last night was just one incident. It was not enough to move Fra Tomasso _or_ the cardinals _or_ the pope. We must do more. You can accomplish everything we want by persuasion and cunning and subterfuge. If you do, I will never have to put my hand to my dagger, and you will have nothing to fear." He shook his open hand at Ugolini. "Take the lead yourself." Ugolini sat staring at the skull while Daoud held his breath. The little cardinal pulled at his whiskers and looked up at Daoud. "What must I do?" Daoud let his breath out. Strength surged back into his body, and despair fled before it. "Tell me," he said, "if Fra Tomasso were to turn against the Tartars, what do you think the Franks would do about it?" Ugolini frowned. "I think that then the only way to reach him would be through the Dominicans. If his superiors commanded him to change his opinion on the Tartars, or to be silent, he would have to obey." "And who, of the alliance's chief supporters, would speak to the Dominican order for the French?" Daoud pressed. "Count Simon lacks the authority," Ugolini said. "Friar Mathieu is eloquent and knows the Tartars well, but I cannot imagine that the chief Dominicans would pay any attention to an ordinary Franciscan priest." "What of de Verceuil?" Daoud asked. Ugolini nodded. "As a cardinal, de Verceuil can speak as an equal to the head of the Dominican order." "Good," said Daoud. "That is what I hoped you would tell me." He turned away from Ugolini. He had accomplished as much as he could for the moment. Exhaustion struck him like a mace on the back of his head. "Lorenzo, when you meet that bravo Sordello, tell him that I have decided he and the three with him can join us. I am going to bed." "I have a bad feeling about him," said Lorenzo. Daoud paused to consider this. It was precisely for such advice that he needed Lorenzo. He put his hand on Lorenzo's shoulder. "If he is spying on us, we need to know who sought to place him in our camp. Let him feel he is secure with us. Then start keeping a close watch on him. See to whom he leads us." Daoud turned from Lorenzo to look at Sophia. She was looking at him intently, but he could not tell what she was thinking or feeling. Tired as he was, he wished she would come to bed with him. If only she were willing. If only he could invite her. * * * * *