The Portuguese Affair Read Online Free PDF

know she might make a claim.’ So much for Ruy Lopez’s dreams, I thought, and for my father’s life savings.
    ‘I do not know that she will, but it is a factor to bear in mind. Now.’ He rose briskly and took out the keys to his strongbox. ‘We must provide you with coin of the realm.’
    When he had unlocked his strongbox, Walsingham gazed for a moment out of the window. He had always been careworn, but in the stronger light I saw now that his skin had the yellowish grey tinge of those consumed by some inward malady. His eyelids drooped heavily with lack of sleep and the whites of his eyes were reddened. I saw him, perhaps for the first time, as a man like other men, and not as a figure of power, the spymaster moving the pieces on the chessboard of his secret world. A sick man, anxious, vigilant, exhausted by his burden of care, worn out, body and soul, before his time. Had he been my patient, I would have said: Forget the Court and all your schemes; go home to Barn Elms and enjoy your garden this summer, for it may be your last.
    Before I left with my instructions and my well-filled purse, he took me by the shoulders and studied my face as if he too were seeing me for the first time.
    ‘You came to us originally, Kit, because Thomas Harriot recommended you to Robert Poley for your talent with codes. And I fear that during these last years I have used you simply as a tool come conveniently to my hand. But lately I have learned more of your history and the sufferings you have endured.’
    I lowered my eyes, fearing somehow that this shrewd man, fixing me with his sharp glance, might suddenly discover the truth about me.
    ‘You have worked well,’ he said, ‘and I hope that you find some peace or fulfilment in this journey to Portugal.’ He sighed, then added so softly I barely heard him. ‘Though I fear it is ill-conceived. When you return – if you return – I will always be glad to employ you.’
    I looked up at that, and opened my mouth to speak, but he forestalled me with a smile.
    ‘I know, I know! Your work as a physician is of far greater importance to you. But our work is similar, yours and mine. You care for men’s bodies. I care for the body politic.’
    I was astonished that he should rank me so highly and murmured some kind of incoherent thanks. I left soon after, without seeing anything of Thomas Phelippes or Arthur Gregory, the seal-forger. My purse was weighed down with Sir Francis’s heavy bag of Spanish and Portuguese coins, and tucked into the breast of my doublet was a plan of the town of Coruña. If I felt cold at the thought of what I must do there, I had no one but myself to blame.
    On my way down to Seething Lane past the disapproving portraits that lined the hallway and thence by the backstairs I came suddenly face-to-face with Poley. I stopped with a gasp. I had believed him still to be in the Low Countries. It was a shock, the way he could suddenly appear out of the blue, like the devil in a masquerade. Would I never be rid of him? Since he had been released from the Tower, doubtless he was once again busy about the darker side of Walsingham’s affairs. He would have had no scruples about killing the agent Titus Allanby. Indeed, he might have found it less inconvenient than trying to smuggle him out of Coruña.
    ‘So-ho!’ he cried, seizing me by both arms, so that I could not move. ‘It is our fine young gallant. Well met, Christoval Alvarez.’
    ‘I have no business with you, Robert Poley.’ I spoke coldly, keeping the fear out of my voice.
    ‘But I might have business with you.’ He stroked my cheek and I twisted away. ‘I’m off to Denmark. I could do with a fine young lad to run errands and share my bed.’
    ‘I too am away on Sir Francis’s business,’ I said, jerking myself free. ‘So you will need to find some other lad to suit your purposes.’
    I pushed past him and ran headlong down the stairs and into the street.
     
    On the final Sabbath before our