“It is time,” she announced to Giuseppe as she reached the main ante room pondering over the conversation with Jose. The man was desperate to avoid prison, giving her huge leverage. He would stay on the Doge until she had the treasure then he could rot, she signalled to Francesca to take the minutes. The ornate conference room was covered by the largest unsupported ceiling in Europe and was cold and cavernous. She saw the small select group ahead of her.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated,” she said, turning to the audience of ten men and women. “You are seated in the very place where the original Council of Venice sat under this very roof, which incidentally is all held together above us with an intricate web of steel wires, let’s hope it lasts a little longer,” she smiled. “The las
