‘Who better than a celebrated poet famed for his addiction to opium?’
‘Knowing me to be his acquaintance, it was Octave who asked me to introduce him to Byron or they would’ve killed him, you understand?’
‘Certainly. Therefore, in the knowledge that they had killed him, you decided to omit this information out of fear these bastards ─ the vermin within that organisation ─ would bring you to that same end,’ answered Ziani.
‘Voilà, but I can tell you no more. He never gave me names, neither did he mention places you’d find useful. I swear to you he didn’t’.
‘I believe you, Monsieur Beyle. In any event, I’m having Corporal Dei Cas search your hotel room at the Bella Venezia with a warrant from the Chamber Magistrate ─ Count Herzog, of course. Let it never be said that my corporal
