The Florentine Emerald: The Secret of the Convert's Ring

by Agustín Bernaldo Palatchi

  “What will happen if a great wave of Jews were to descend upon our city?” wondered Mauricio. “These are difficult times, and perhaps there might not be enough work to go around for everyone.”

  “We shall deal with each problem as it presents itself,” answered Elias. “For the time being, we shall need all the help we can get, including that which you can offer us.”

  75

  Luca snorted with satisfaction from his box in the wooden stands that had been erected in the square of Santa Croce. Piero de Medici, wanting to win over the people after the death of his father, had organized a game of calcio between the San Giovanni and the Santo Spirito teams. His particular district, San Giovanni, had managed to get together the most formidable team in living memory. Because of this, as soon as the contest had started, Luca had a hunch that they would devastate those louts from the rival team.

  “What a shame your husband was unable to come,” said his wife Maria.

  “Yes, it’s a shame,” Lorena replied. “He would have liked to come but Elias Levi had some urgent matters to discuss with him.”

  Luca’s stomach turned over when he overheard that comment. Mauricio obviously considered it more important to talk to a Jew than to watch the match in his company! He was convinced that he had declined his invitation simply to irritate him. Although there was nothing surprising in the fact that he was on terms of such intimacy with certain Jews. He had investigated Mauricio’s past and had discovered his paternal ancestors were Jews who converted to Christianity. Now that Savonarola was purifying the foul air of Florence, that piece of information could perhaps be conveniently used. Luca turned his attention back to the court.

  A player from Santo Spirito was running after the ball, struggling hard to keep it from one of the San Giovanni team, who suddenly crashed into him, knocking him down to the ground. The crowd applauded this move while another team member gave the ball a well-aimed kick toward the opposing side. There, Sandro, the star player of San Giovanni, elbowed his way past his opponent and passed the ball to a team mate with a spectacular header. Two players from Santo Spirito fell onto the recipient and brought him down without thinking twice.

  “Come on now, get up, don’t fuss!” shouted Luca, trying to encourage the fallen player.

  “Do you not find this game a bit too rough?” enquired Lorena.

  “My husband loves it,” answered Maria, as if her husband’s favorable opinion made the question superfluous.

  “Stop your idle prattle and concentrate on the game,” said Luca.

  “We apologize,” said Maria meekly.

  “I was just talking to my sister,” Lorena broke in. “I fail to understand how our conversation could possibly bother you when the public is screaming so loud.”

  The whole field was indeed in an uproar. Santo Spirito had gained control of the ball and was initiating a counterattack. Unfortunately, the San Giovanni team had thrown themselves into the attack without leaving anyone in the rearguard. Owing to this tactical error, a lanky player from Santo Spirito advanced swiftly toward the opposing goal, clutching the ball to his chest. The sturdy players from San Giovanni ran with all their might after the emaciated youth. Had they caught up with him, they would have torn him to bits, but they were not fast enough. The speedy player from Santo Spirito encountered no opposition and scored the first goal. Half the field celebrated with yells and chants. Luca was furious.

  “This is not the place to come if you want to have a chat,” complained Luca, his voice rising. “What an unbelievable lack of education!”

  “Well I hardly find your behavior elegant,” Lorena retorted.

  “Just look who’s talking!” said Luca, beside himself with anger. “No less than her Holiness Lorena, who looks as if butter would not melt in her mouth, but who is capable of knifing you in the back.”

  “I have no idea what you are talking about,” said Lorena.

  “You know only too well,” Luca alleged. “And if not, just think about what is happening today. First your husband humiliates me by not accepting my invitation to the big final because he has to go and meet a Jew. After that, you spend the whole time whispering with your sister while the match is going on when I’m quite sure she must have explained that there is nothing that exasperates me more. My wife knows perfectly well that when we are attending a match you can applaud, shout, even make comments about the game, but not talk about anything else whatsoever and even less criticize calcio. And what is more, you are now trying to give me lessons in good manners with that viper’s tongue of yours, which you women have used ever since the time of Eve.”

  Lorena could see that her sister was giving her a warning look that it was best not to answer back. Therefore she desisted and Luca returned his concentration to the match. Sandro, the star player of San Giovanni, had just made another masterly move. The field was in an uproar and at last silence reigned between the sisters. Today, the match would not slip through their fingers, thought Luca.

  76

  After his team had lost at the last minute, Luca left the field in a rage, alleging he had an extremely important meeting. Lorena was left alone with her sister. Both were sitting in the box, which was now completely empty as all its occupants, San Giovanni supporters, had left their seats with nearly the same speed as Luca.

  “Are you happy with Luca?” asked Lorena with a steady gaze.

  “Why do you ask me something like that?” answered Maria defensively.

  “Well, his behavior just seemed a little, how shall I put it, aggressive.”

  “The atmosphere in the stadium is contagious and he absorbs all that passionate feeling and loses control. That is why I gave you a look not to talk or get involved in an argument with him. Here, he vents all his frustrations. It is just a question of going along with him and ignoring his rude outbursts.”

  Lorena was not sure it was that simple. Luca had always been nice enough to Mauricio and her, but in such a polite way that he had in fact built up a wall that was impossible to penetrate. The cause of this cool manner might be rooted in the fact that he still felt rejected by her as she had refused his marriage proposal. This, of course, had never been discussed in public, for it would have meant a great dishonor for her as well as for Luca himself. Moreover, Maria could have felt belittled. The only ones who knew about this were Mauricio, her parents, and her brother Alessandro. Therefore, in all meetings and family reunions, a pact of silence had been established that suited all parties concerned. Lorena, as well as her parents and her brother, loved Maria dearly and so had gone to great pains to hide from her that Luca had wanted to marry her elder sister in the past. Today, Lorena’s heart had raced when her brother-in-law had accused her of knowing only too well what he was referring to when he said that she was capable of stabbing a man in the back.

  What had happened for them to both lose the self-control they had managed to keep all these years? It had been her fault, really. She was unable to say why. Perhaps she too had been swept up by the heated atmosphere of the match when she answered Luca so abruptly, but there was more to it than that. The truth was, she could not bear the dominating way with which he treated her sister. It only took one word or an arched eyebrow from her husband to make Maria lower her head submissively or be reduced to silence.

  “Maybe you are right, Maria, but something snapped inside me when you apologized for talking to me, especially taking into consideration that the field was one uproarious storm of shrieking voices.”

  “If I hadn’t, Luca would have been irritated. That is just the way he is, with his qualities and his defects.”

  “I know, sister dear. That being said, I have noticed lately that you talk less and less in public gatherings when Luca is present.”

  “My husband wishes it so. Every day he listens with an ever-growing passion to the words of Savonarola. You know he believes that for us women, our prime role is to care for the house and any other type of activity, including talking too much in social even
ts, can be improper.”

  “Yes, just in case we inflame the base passions of our neighbors,” continued Lorena. “I, too, listen to Savonarola preaching. According to his affirmations we have to accept that it is our fault that we find ourselves in this vale of tears instead of being in paradise, because it was Eve who seduced Adam into eating the apple from the forbidden tree.”

  “That is all explained in Genesis,” confirmed Maria. “Anyway there are so many tasks that we women can undertake that are pleasing in the eyes of God. Essentially, taking care of the home and our children’s education. I can think of nothing that satisfies me more than to dedicate myself body and soul to my five children and that is exactly what I do.”

  Lorena looked at her sister. She had always been like that, ready to make personal sacrifices so as to help others, always putting other people’s interests before her own. It had been a mistake to be rude to Luca, although she was not too happy with the way he behaved toward Maria. From now on, she would be exquisitely polite with her brother-in-law and, if necessary, would humbly apologize. However, she would keep her eyes wide open and watch Luca’s behavior very closely.

  “I love you, little sister,” said Lorena after giving her a kiss. “What would you say if I came home with you for a moment to see the children while Luca is busy with that ever-so-urgent meeting?”

  77

  Mauricio was happy he had stayed at home instead of going to see the match. He did not enjoy calcio, nor did he feel at ease in Luca’s company. His brother-in-law was always very polite with him, but whenever they were together he always felt as if he was being stabbed by invisible daggers. For that reason, he had not hesitated to accept when his good friend Elias Levi had requested they meet at precisely the time when the game was being played.

  “I am all ears,” said Mauricio, comfortably seated in the inner courtyard of his mansion, “what did you want to tell me about?”

  “Do you remember when we met in Orsanmichele a few months ago?” asked Elias.

  “Perfectly. Did you manage to get permission for that Sephardic Spaniard to work as a tanner?”

  “Yes, it was not difficult. However, as you predicted, a problem has arisen now because the date that had been fixed for the Jews to leave Spain has expired. As a result, more Sephardic Jews have arrived and I cannot find enough work for them all. Even though the majority of Jews have chosen other destinations!”

  “Due to Savonarola, no doubt,” surmised Mauricio.

  “Indeed, this preacher’s influence is growing by the day. At this rate, he will end up governing the city. For the time being, he has managed to make the Jews unwelcome in Florence. This would never have happened if Lorenzo was still alive. I tried to talk to his son Piero, but without success as he would not even deign to receive me.”

  “It saddens me to hear this, although I am not surprised. The influence of the advisers who were closest to his father is no longer what it was. Piero is now surrounding himself with a clique of adulating sycophants of whom we can expect nothing good.”

  “It is difficult to believe that such a brilliant father could have produced a son who is not only foolish but mediocre,” stated Elias with disdain.

  “Well the old saying ‘like father, like son’ certainly does not apply to Piero de Medici. In any case, I hope the Sephardic Jews will find a better welcome in other cities.”

  “Sadly enough, there are not many places where Sephardic Jews are well received in Christendom. In Italy, the kingdom of Naples has been alone in opening its doors to them in a friendly way. The Ottoman Empire has also welcomed them with enthusiasm. Turkey, in fact, has become the main destination for Spanish Jews. In spite of this, some have disembarked in Florence, either because of family ties or else for a break before continuing their long journey. I would be immensely grateful to you if you could give them some kind of employment, even if it were only temporary. What seems most probable is that they will leave the city when they can, but for now they need money, even if it is only to finance their travel expenses. Most of them arrived with the clothes they were wearing as their only possession, due to the fact that the monarchs of Spain had forbidden these unfortunate Spanish Jews to take any money or precious metals away with them.”

  Mauricio listened attentively to his friend. Due to the great affection he felt for him, he would like to help.

  “As you know,” explained Mauricio, “my friend Bruno and I own a small textile business. I think we could hire weavers, spinners, and wool carders. Perhaps even an accountant as well: up till now we have personally taken care of all the paperwork, but it would not be a bad idea to get some kind of help.”

  “I am deeply grateful,” said Elias touching Mauricio’s arm affectionately, “especially as I am aware of the crisis the textile industry is going through.”

  Indifferent to anything other than her own pain at that moment, Simonetta, his nine-year-old daughter, burst into the courtyard, her eyes filled with tears, followed closely by her elder brother.

  “Agostino pulled my hair and hurt me,” the little girl complained. She had the same curly, chestnut-colored hair as her mother. In Mauricio’s eyes, she was the most beautiful girl in the world. It was obvious that she had not come to any great harm, although her pouting expression reflected the outrage she was feeling.

  “I was only playing,” Agostino defended himself. “I didn’t mean to hurt her.”

  “Agostino, you are the eldest and your job is to protect your younger siblings instead of making them angry,” explained Mauricio. “So no lemonade for you today. Whereas you, Simonetta, can go and ask Cateruccia for a drink and see if that sweetens your temper.”

  Simonetta’s expression immediately changed to one of satisfaction, as if justice had suddenly been restored on earth. Agostino frowned to the delight of his sister, but did not protest. Very much like his mother, the child rarely took no for an answer and usually found a solution to get his own way. Simonetta, on the other hand, was less practical and more of a dreamer; less rebellious and more contented, she lived in her own particular world of fantasy, protected by the magnificent palace and refined education she was being given. Despite the scolding, Mauricio knew perfectly well that Agostino would end up by getting his own way and would contrive to steal the lemonade from the larder. His son also knew this and for that reason did not complain. Simonetta, on the other hand, was oblivious and the punishment that had been meted out allowed her to continue believing that she lived in a safe kingdom where no transgression ever went unpunished. Mauricio was satisfied. He had managed to settle the argument between the siblings with fewer complications than he had anticipated and he could now concentrate again on his conversation with Elias.

  “Sultan Bayezid II maintains that King Ferdinand must be a bad monarch if he impoverishes his kingdom by expelling Jews. However the Hebrews, instead of giving him some of his own medicine, are giving him a last favor with the voyage of Christopher Columbus, which if successful, will convert Spain into a more powerful country.”

  “Well, let us hope so,” said Mauricio who had, with his partner, ended up investing an important sum of money toward the voyage. “But what do the Hebrews have to do with Christopher Columbus?”

  “Everything,” affirmed Elias. “One only has to focus on some of the details. The royal edict of expulsion decreed that as from midnight on the second of August 1492, no Jew would be allowed to stay on Spanish soil. Which day did Columbus’s three caravels leave? The third of August 1492. A coincidence? I do not believe in them. Furthermore, in accordance with maritime tradition, it is sacrosanct for members of the crew to spend the night before they sail in their own homes. Even more so before such a hazardous voyage. Well, contravening this sailors’ unwritten law, Columbus ordered all crew to spend the night of the second of August on board the three ships: Pinta, Niña, and Santa María. The only logical motive for this is that many of the crew were Jews and Columbus did not want to risk their arrest when the bells tolled midn
ight. Moreover, this voyage would never have obtained royal authorization without the constant support of converted Jews at the Spanish court, who helped Columbus materially and financially, turning this project into a reality.”

  “I had heard rumors that Luis Santángel, King Ferdinand’s court notary and main backer of the voyage with a personal loan of one million maravedis, is himself a descendant of Jews. Were you referring to him, Elias?”

  “Of course, but Luis Santángel is not the only New Christian with influence at the Spanish court who has done his utmost for Columbus. There have been many who have worked tirelessly close to their majesties, such as Juan Cabrero, the king’s chamberlain, Gabriel Sánchez, treasurer of the Crown of Aragon, Friar Hernando de Talavera, the queen’s confessor, Diego de Deza, the prince’s tutor, Juan de Coloma, secretary to the Crown of Aragon … The list is so long that one could say that the king and queen were unable to move a step in the court without coming up against some convert who supported Columbus.”

  Mauricio realized that he shared his surname with the secretary to the Crown of Aragon: Coloma. And there was not a great deal of difference between Coloma and Colón, the Spanish spelling of Columbus. Elias had once commented that Colom, Colón, Coullon and Colombo, in all its different variations, was a surname belonging to New Christians with Jewish blood. What he could never have imagined was the amount and importance of the support for the voyage coming from Hebrew connections.

  “It was precisely Juan Sánchez, brother of the treasurer of Aragon, who was one of the people who encouraged us to invest in Columbus’s project.”

  “I know him well,” said Elias. “Juan Sánchez settled in Florence to escape from the Inquisition. He had been accused of being a false Christian at a trial in Saragossa and was condemned to death. He was warned in time, escaped from Spain before the trial began, and the Inquisition had to satisfy itself by merely burning an effigy of him.”