Mathieu did not
address Rachel by name and kept his eyes on John, who looked confused,
it would appear that he was talking to the Tartar and not to Rachel.

De Verceuil strode over to the wine bottle standing on the low table by
John's bed. Without asking permission, he picked it up and drank deeply
from it.

"The Tartars travel with the best wine in this whole army," he declared.
"Better than the cheap swill King Charles carries with him." Sophia
glanced at John and saw that he was glowering at de Verceuil.

Friar Mathieu said in the Tartar tongue, "Sordello went to the cardinal
with the story that you must be some sort of agent for Manfred and
therefore it is dangerous for John to keep you with him."

Why would Sordello do that now, Rachel wondered. He could have accused
her anytime in the past year. She could not question Friar Mathieu,
though, without giving it away that he was talking to her. Did Sordello
have some plan to get the chest away from her and desert?

"They know hardly anything about you," Friar Mathieu said. "Do not be
afraid. Admit nothing. Deny everything. I think Sordello knows more
about Ugolini's household, and about Tilia Caballo's brothel, than is
safe for him to admit. Say nothing, and I believe they will frustrate
themselves."

John smiled and nodded at Friar Mathieu. "I see what you are doing," he
said in Tartar.

De Verceuil was looming over her. "Speak up! What was your connection
with Ugolini's niece? _Was_ she Ugolini's niece?" Even though she was
standing up, he looked down on her from an enormous height. His deep
voice and great size terrified her.

She said, "I know nothing about any cardinal or any cardinal's niece."

De Verceuil seized her by the shoulders, his fingers digging in so hard
she felt as if nails were being driven into her muscles. She was almost
dizzy with panic.

"You lying little Jewess!"

Suddenly Rachel felt a violent shove, and she was thrown back against
her quilt-covered chest and sat down on it hard. She looked up and saw
that John was standing before de Verceuil. It was he who had pushed them
apart. His arms were spread wide.

"Do not dare to touch her again!" John shouted in the Tartar tongue. He
turned to Friar Mathieu and jerked his head at de Verceuil.

"Tell him!"

When Friar Mathieu had repeated John's command, the cardinal answered,
"Tell Messer John that we have reason to believe that this Jewish whore
is an agent of Manfred von Hohenst