Dawn came and while most of Milan slept, Alessandro, desiring to show his penitent state to the Almighty, made his way to first Mass at Santa Maria delle Grazie. He genuflected, lit a candle in honour of the Holy Virgin and prayed that God would grant Letizia and his son good health. Looking around, he marvelled at the eerie way the light cast its long tentacles over the incense filled altar.
While Francesco assigned Romano and Nicoli the task of reassembling Leonardo’s spring propelled armoured vehicle they were disturbed by a tap on the door as two officious looking men entered. One was a young man a similar age to Francesco, the other, a man in his fifties, sported a neatly groomed grey beard, wore a black legal cloak and walked with a slight stoop. He addressed Francesco formally.
‘I
