"Cardinal Ugolini has persuaded the Contessa di Monaldeschi to intercede for David," Sophia told her, "and the cardinal has gone to the Palazzo del Podesta, hoping to bring David back here again." "It may be hours before David is released," said Tilia, raising a cautioning hand. "_If_ the podesta does agree. Or he may persuade the contessa that he was right to arrest David." These were the very thoughts that had been tormenting Sophia. She needed to do something. "If you want to go to your house, Tilia, I will go with you." It occurred to her immediately after she spoke that the streets might be dangerous for both of them. But she could not stand the agony of sitting here, waiting for the possibility of still worse news. "Sophia, you and the cardinal must not be linked to Tilia Caballo's bordello," said Tilia. "I will keep myself hidden," said Sophia. Sophia made Francesca comfortable in her own bed, then went down with Tilia to the great hall of Ugolini's mansion and sent for Riccardo. Hand in hand, Sophia holding a lighted candle, the two women made their way through the tunnel that led to the potterymaker's shop. Riccardo met them with another hired cart, like the one that had taken them from Tilia's to the cardinal's this morning. This was a covered cart full of big urns of olive oil. The air, much cooler than before the storm, felt refreshing on Sophia's face. Getting into the cart, Sophia looked up and saw big black clouds rolling across the sky, their rounded edges outlined by the red light of the setting sun. The cart, pulled by an old draft horse, bumped over cobblestones and splashed through puddles. Tilia and Sophia sat on a bench behind Riccardo, under the cart's canvas cover, so they could not be seen from the street. All around them Sophia heard church bells ringing for the Angelus. She could close her eyes for a moment and imagine she was hearing the bells of the three hundred churches of Constantinople. She longed to be in the Polis again, among civilized people. _That is why I am here, is it not? To keep the barbarians here, and away from there._ She saw torchlight ahead. This was Tilia's street, farther up a hill that slowed down the elderly horse. From this distance the house looked undamaged, but what was that hanging above the door? "Merciful God!" Sophia whispered. She saw the body of a man suspended from a rope tied to the balcony above the doorway. "Oh, God," said Tilia. "Oh, poor, poor Cassio." She dabbed at her eyes with the sleeve of her gown. Now, by the torchlight, Sophia could see several men, dressed in the yellow and blue of the commune, gathered in front of the house. The podesta's watchmen. The street was full of common folk, who had to back up to give the cart room to move forward. As it approached the front door, one of the podesta's men raised a hand to stop it.