Tilia reached over and squeezed her hand. "I am frightened too. Who would not be? But you're right--giving way to panic just leaves us helpless. Let us go back to Adelberto's mansion. He is a changeable man. I may be able to get him to think sensibly. I will see what I can do with him." A wave of relief swept over Sophia. At least she was no longer struggling alone. Sophia could see a bluish light on the tile roofs of the houses across from Tilia's window. It would soon be morning. _God, they have had Daoud for a whole night! What have they done to him?_ "D'Ucello has men watching the cardinal's mansion," Sophia said. "Riccardo and I slipped out through the tunnel that leads under the street to the potterymaker's shop, but we cannot get back in that way." "Getting there is the easiest part of it," said Tilia. "Cassio will hire a covered cart for us. The hard part will be deciding what to do once we have arrived." She smiled and patted her breasts, accentuated by the gossamer fabric of her sleeping gown. "I must put some clothes on." "While you dress, can I see Rachel?" Sophia asked. She noticed three ironbound chests, ornamented with circular enameled medallions, standing in a row against the wall beside Tilia's bed. Each was secured with a padlock. They must hold the gold Tilia's customers brought to her. "I will take you to Rachel," said Tilia. "She is as well and happy as when you saw her last. But do not tell her what has happened to David." "There is no point in frightening her," Sophia agreed. "But when we leave Orvieto, I want to take her with us." "Whether you believe it or not, I am looking after her welfare," Tilia said. "Just yesterday, John the Tartar offered me five thousand florins to let him take her to Perugia with him when he follows the pope there. He flew into a rage when I refused him. So, you see, I have even braved the fury of the Tartars for Rachel's sake. Perhaps you will begin to judge me a little more kindly." Turning to leave the room, Sophia froze momentarily. It had not occurred to her that Tilia would know that she had once hated her. The woman _was_ penetrating. She felt a little more confident that Tilia would have the wisdom to help her in this calamity. Tilia, holding a candle, opened Rachel's door for Sophia. More glittering gold had been added to the girl's bedroom since Sophia had last visited her, and when the candle flame illuminated it, the room seemed to blaze. Sophia blinked at the gold curtains before the windows and the heavy cloth-of-gold draperies surrounding the bed. All this, she thought, was to impress that horrible Tartar who came here to lie with Rachel. How lucky Sophia had been to be able to share her bed with a man she loved. But thoughts of happiness with Daoud--memories--were like a knife in her heart, now that he had been taken from her.