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the full possibility of thought。〃
〃That's what he wrote about in the second half of the book？〃
Paul nods again。 〃Francesco wrote everything into it； all the things he was too scared to e out and say in the first half。 He recorded what he saw in Florence； and what he feared。 That Savonarola was growing in influence。 That he would somehow earn the ear of the French king。 That he had admirers throughout Germany and Italy。 You can see it increasing； the longer Francesco writes。 He became more and more convinced that there were legions of supporters behind Savonarola； in every country of Christendom。 This preacher； he wrote； is only the beginning of a new spirit of Christianity。 There will be uprisings of fanatical preachers； outbreaks of bonfires throughout Italy。 He says Europe is on the brink of a religious revolution。 And with the Reformation approaching； he's right。 Savonarola won't be around to see it happen； but like you said； when Luther sets things into motion a few years later； he'll remember Savonarola as a hero。〃
〃So Colonna saw it all ing。〃
〃Yes。 And after seeing Savonarola for himself； Francesco takes a stand。 He decides to use his connections to do what very few other people in Rome； or anywhere in the West； could've done about it。 Using a small network of trusted friends； he begins to collect even more great works of art and rare manuscripts。 He municates with a huge network of humanists and painters to gather together as many treasures； as many artifacts of human knowledge and achievement； as possible。 He bribes abbots and librarians； aristocrats and businessmen。 Merchants travel to cities across the continent for him。 They go to the ruins of the Byzantine Empire； where ancient learning is still preserved。 They go to infidel lands for Arabic texts。 They go to monasteries in Germany； France； and the North。 And the whole time； Francesco keeps his identity a secret； protected by his closest friends and humanist brothers。 Only they know what he intends to do with all of these treasures。〃
Suddenly I remember the portmaster's diary。 Genovese； wondering what could possibly be carried on such a small ship； ing from such an obscure port。 Wondering why a nobleman like Francesco Colonna would be so interested in it。
〃He finds masterpieces；〃 Paul continues。 〃Works that no one has seen for hundreds of years。 Titles no one knew even existed。 Aristotle's Eudemus； Protrepticus； and Gryllus。 Greco…Roman imitations by Michelangelo。 All forty…two volumes by Hermes Trismegistus； the Egyptian prophet believed to be older than Moses。 He finds thirty…eight plays of Sophocles； twelve by Euripides； twenty…three by Aeschylus； all of them considered lost today。 In a single German monastery he finds philosophical treatises by Parmenides； Empedocles； and Democritus； all squirreled away for centuries by monks。 A scout in the Adriatic discovers works by the ancient painter Apelles…the portrait of Alexander； the Aphrodite Anadyomene； and the line of Protogenes…and Francesco is so excited he tells the scout to buy them even if they might be fakes。 A librarian in Constantinople sells him the Chaldaean Oracles for a small pig's weight in silver…and Francesco calls it a bargain because the oracles' author； Zoroaster the Persian； is the only known prophet older than Hermes Trismegistus。 Seven chapters by Tacitus and a book by Livy appear at the end of Francesco's list as if they're nothing。 He almost forgets to mention half a dozen works by Botticelli。〃
Paul shakes his head； imagining it。 〃In less than two years； Francesco Colonna assembles one of the greatest libraries of ancient art and literature in the Renaissance world。 He brings two seamen into his inner circle to captain his ships and move his cargo。 He employs the sons of the trusted members of the Roman Academy to protect caravans traveling roads across Europe。 He tests the men he suspects of treachery； recording their every move so he can cover his tracks。 Francesco knew he could only trust his secret to a select few； and he was willing to do whatever it took to protect it。〃
It's hitting me now； the full force of what my father and I stumbled onto： a single loose thread in a web of munication between Colonna and his assistants； a network designed for the sole purpose of protecting the nobleman's secret。
〃Maybe Rodrigo and Donato weren't the only ones he tested；〃 I suggest。 〃Maybe there are more belladonna letters。〃
〃Probably；〃 he says。 〃And when Francesco was done； he put everything he owned in a place no one would ever think to look。 A place where he says his treasures will be safe from his enemies。〃
I know it even before he says it。
〃He petitions the senior members of his family for access to the huge tracts of land they own outside Rome； under the pretext of a profit…making enterprise。 But instead of building above ground； in the middle of the forests where his ancestors used to hunt； he designs his crypt。 A huge underground vault。 Only five of his men ever know its location。
〃Then； as 1498 approaches； Francesco makes a crucial decision。 In Florence； Savonarola seems to be more popular than ever。 He declares that on Shrove Tuesday he will build a bonfire even bigger than the last one。 Francesco records part of the speech in the Hypnerotomachia。 He says all of Italy is at a fever pitch with this new kind of religious madness…and he fears for his treasures。 He's spent virtually all of his fortune already； and with Savonarola gaining a foothold in the mind of Western Europe； he senses that goods are being harder to move and hide。 So he gathers up all that he's collected； places it in the crypt； and seals it off for good。〃
Slowly it occurs to me that one of the oddest details of the second message finally makes sense。 My crypt； Colonna wrote； is an unequalled contrivance for its purpose； impervious to all things； but above all to water。 He waterproofed the vault； knowing that otherwise； locked underground； his treasures would rot。
〃He decides that in the days before the bonfire is lit；〃 Paul continues； 〃he will travel to Florence。 He will go to San Marco。 And in a final attempt to defend his cause； he will confront Savonarola。 By appealing to the man's love of learning； his respect for truth and beauty； Francesco will persuade him to remove the objects of lasting value from the bonfire。 He will stop the preacher from destroying what the humanists consider sacred。
〃But Francesco is a realist。 After hearing Savonarola's sermons； he knows how fiery the man is； how convinced he is that the bonfires are righteous。 If Savonarola won't join him； Francesco knows he has only one choice。 He must show Florence how barbaric the prophet really is。 He will go to the bonfire and remove the objects from the pyramid himself。 If Savonarola tries to light the fire anyway； Francesco will be martyred on the pyre； in front of the entire city。 He will force Savonarola to bee a murderer。 Only this； he says； will turn Florence against fanaticism…and with Florence； the rest of Europe。〃
〃He was willing to die for it；〃 I say； half to myself。
〃He was willing to kill for it；〃 Paul says。 〃Francesco had five close humanist friends in his confraternity of brothers。 One was Te