Coimbra - 17th of May

Perhaps, it was a mistake to be so open about approaching the Brotero's household, thought the man, as he made his way through the Botanical Gardens to the other house that belonged to Brotero, but he wanted to see the house from the inside, to see the servants. As far as he could tell, nothing out of the ordinary was happening there, but even if the rumour he was sent to check was indeed that, just a rumour, he had to make sure. Having an unknown spy in the midst of the country was disturbing, especially if the spy travelled rather openly and no one could fathom his affiliation.

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Fandorin walked briskly, forgetting the presence of Widmayer. Logically, he could not see any reason for the girl to be scared but his instincs were telling him that there was something happening.

Widmayer was mildly surprised at how quickly the older man could walk if he set his mind to it. Better than his age could promise Fandorin had made the younger man step up his pace a little to keep up. Why such an abrupt leave though? He couldn't fathom a good reason save for the discovery of the killer that had left Hunter's 'contact' in a pool of blood. The damn girl came about at just the wrong time too.

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Even though their master and his adoring daughter were away on errands, seeing the review with the many names important to the town of Coimbra, the servants were not slacking with their duties. While two of the girls had been scrubbing the floor of the entrance hall clean - a feat they could afford without having to repeat with the floor still wet, when the professor was away - one had gone to wipe the dust of the shelves and books.

This was all till a man had approached them inquiring for a name. Ever since he'd become quite the topic of the house.

Fandorin used his cane to knock loudly on the door. Thank God, the servants saw him before, when he dined with their master and the daughter, that should make it easier to question them.

Jacinta rose to her feet, hushing their little group. While she hurried to answer the door the others began to disperse, but not surprisingly most had remained at an earshot of the door. Curious to hear what was to be said. Some expecting it to be the man from before.

She peered through the window close to the door and then had the doors opened blinking at a pair of handsome men. She'd recognised Fandorin and bowed her head with a soft: "Senhor Von Dhorn."

A few faces turned away from the door, busily at work.

'Good morning. May we come in? Professor sent me to ask you something?'
Fandorin's voice was surprsingly gentle.

"Yes, yes certainly." Why did Senhor Von Dhorn ask at all, when upon their master's hospitality he was very much given the right to come and go as he wished.

As the girl moved out of the way to let the two men in, Josef arched an eyebrow at Fandorin, then waited for him to enter, before following suit. He stood a bit to the side, offering Fandorin to take his coat and cane, returning to his role as a mere servant to the man.

Jacinta glanced briefly at Josef as if asking an answer in his eyes, servant to servant confidentiality. Josef looked away with the slightest of shrugs. Without an answer as to what the question might be she nodded: "What is it that you come to ask, senhor?" She asked.

Fandorin did not relinquish his cane or his coat: he did not intend to stay long.
'Tell me, did anyone come to the house today? A priest perhaps?'

Widmayer retreated silently.

Jacinta nodded quickly in reply: "Yes, there was a man here, A tall type, looked like a proper inquisitor, he did." She looked at the Senhor. "But he left a while ago." And had been the talk, for his strangeness since.

"He must've been lost. Asked for some José ... José Eduardo Silva.. or something like that."

Fandorin looked at the woman seriously.
'When you say a proper inquisitor do you mean he looked, um, unnerving, or was he in fact an inquisitor?'

"...Both, Senhor." She shook her head lightly, a river of dark raven hair cascading softly about her shoulders. She looked a bit plain, her lips thin, with the most common colour eyes could have and a fairly intelligent look in them.

Fandorin sighed. 'Thank you.' He turned to Widmayer and speaking in German, said: 'Sniffing about no doubt. What I'd like to know is why?'

There was a sound of a carriage approaching and in a few moments Brotero and Amalia appeared.
'She did not feel like staying and waiting for your answer,' mumbled Brotero almost apologetically.

Widmayer nodded to Fandorin. Couldn't be a mere coincidence. He turned as the door opened with Amelia and Brotero appearing right after. He looked kindly to the girl, aware of Brotero's presence. Jacinta bowed quickly to Brotero, glancing at the young girl and approaching her with a soft: "Are you allright miss?"

Amalia, who had pulled herself together, nodded to the maid: 'Yes, Jacinta, I am quite alright. Would you see about the refreshments?'

Fandorin turned to Brotero.
'We need to talk, Professor.' Brotero nodded and lead the way to his study, with Amalia following: she was not used to be excluded from her father's affairs. Fandorin frowned at her, but did not object, after all, Brotero would her everything anyway.'

Jacinta nodded and removed herself, leaving for the kitchen where she could prepare a plate for both the guests and their master and daughter. Josef stood at the door, uncertain whether he could follow, so he looked to Fandorin, waiting for a nod of aknowledgement, or a shake of his head which could send him back out into the hall.

Fandorin stopped by the study's entrance and noticing that Widmayer called him. Brotero and Amalia settled side by side on a small couch and Brotero gesture for Fandorin to take one of the armchairs.

Josef entered, standing beside Fandorin. He glanced at the girl wondering how she was feeling. The poor lass looked somewhat better now. Who was the man that came inquiring? Was he indeed one that mistakenly arrived at the house or was he someone else. Someone that they might worry about.

Fandorin shut the door behind Widmayer and indicated that he should sit down. Then he looked at father and daughter, and told them what he had heard from the servant. This time it was Brotero who paled.

Widmayer sat where he was indicated, observing the expressions and reactions of either of the two, girl and man, when they received the news. Brotero's face had turned as white as chalk, and the girl still looked stressed.

Brotero held his daughter tightly:
'Surely, not after twenty years... What can they possibly want with me now?'
Fandorin frowned:
'You don't know that he came after you, Professor. Why would he not let the whole world know that you were being acussed by them, why such stealth?'
'Perhaps, he hoped to find, to see another reason to be added to their accusation, or perhaps he was trying to find something he could substantiate their accusation with. I do not believe in coincidences: if he came here, it must have somethin to do with me.'

Josef listened silently to the conversation exchanged between their host and his master. Though it looked as if he were but standing there without thought, he was really both listening and mulling over what they've learned and trying to find if there was a connection between the recent events.

In came Jacinta a short few moments later, placing down a plate of drinks and glasses for the men and girl, and hurried away again, though she might've wished to hear of it as much as any other.