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〃Then he is far better bred than I am； isn't he？ For I owe you the same debt and I question everything you say。〃
〃You're a smart； devil…tongued little imp； yes；〃 Marius conceded with a small smile。 〃Riccardo was won in a card game from his drunken Father by a beastly merchant who worked him night and day。 Riccardo detested his Father； which you never have。 Riccardo was eight years old when I bought him for the price of a gold necklace。 He'd seen the worst of men whom children don't move to natural pity。 You saw what men will do with the flesh of children for pleasure。 It's not as bad。 Riccardo； unable to believe that a tender little one could move anyone to passion； believed in nothing until I wrapped him in safety and filled him with learning； and told him in terms on which he could count that he was my prince。
〃But to answer you more in the way you ask the question； Riccardo thinks that I am a magician； and that with you I've chosen to share my spells。 He knows that you were on death's door when I bestowed on you my secrets； and that I do not tease him or the others with this honor； but regard it rather as something of dire consequence。 He doesn't seek after our knowledge。 And will defend us with his life。〃
I accepted this。 I didn't have the need in me to confide in Riccardo as I had with Bianca。
〃I feel the need to protect him；〃 I said to my Master。 〃Pray he should never have to protect me。〃
〃So I feel also；〃 said Marius。 〃I feel this for them all。 God granted your Englishman a great mercy that he was not alive when I came home to find my little ones slain by him。 I don't know what I would have done。 That he had injured you was bad enough。 That he had laid out two child sacrifices at my door to his pride and bitterness； this was even more despicable。 You had made love to him； and you could fight him。 But they were innocents who stood in his path。〃
I nodded。 〃What did happen to his remains？〃 I asked。
〃Such a simple thing；〃 he said with a shrug。 〃Why do you want to know？ I can be superstitious too。 I broke him into fragments and scattered those fragments to the wind。 If the old tales are true that his shade will pine for the restoration of his body； then his soul wanders the winds。〃
〃Master； what will bee of our shades if our bodies are destroyed？〃
〃God only knows； Amadeo。 I despair of knowing。 I have lived too long to think of destroying myself。 My fate is perhaps the same fate of the whole physical world。 That we could have e from nothing and return to nothing； this is entirely possible。 But let us enjoy our illusions of immortality； as mortals enjoy theirs。〃
Good enough。
My Master was absent from the palazzo twice； when he went on those mysterious journeys which he wouldn't explain to me any more now than he had before。
I hated these absences； but I knew that they were tests of my new powers。 I had to rule within the house gently and unobtrusively； and I had to hunt on my own and make some account； upon Marius's return； of what I had done with my leisure time。
After the second journey； he came home weary and unmonly sad。 He said； as he had said once before； that 〃Those Who Must Be Kept〃 seemed to be at peace。
〃I hate it what these creatures are！〃 I said。
〃No； never say such a thing to me； Amadeo！〃 he burst out。 In a flash I'd seen him more angry and unposed than ever in our lives。 I'm not sure I'd ever seen him really angry in our lives。
He approached me and I shrank back； actually afraid。 But by the time he struck me； hard across the face； he'd recovered himself； and it was just the usual brain…jarring blow。
I accepted it； and then threw him one exasperated searing glance。 〃You act like a child；〃 I said； 〃a child playing Master； and so I must master my feelings and put up with this。〃
Of course it took all my reserves to say this； especially when my head was swimming； and I made my face such an obdurate mask of contempt that suddenly he burst out laughing。
I started to laugh too。
〃But really； Marius；〃 I said； feeling very cheeky； 〃what are these creatures you speak of？〃 I made my wisdom nice and reverent。 My question was； after all； sincere。 〃You e home miserable； Sir。 You know you do。 So what are they； and why must they be kept？〃
〃Amadeo； don't ask me anymore。 Sometimes just before morning； when my fears are at their worst； I imagine that we have enemies among the blood drinkers； and they're close。〃
〃Others？ As strong as you？〃
〃No； those who have e in past years are never as strong as me； and that is why they're gone。〃
I was enthralled。 He had hinted at this before； that he kept our territory clean of others； but he wouldn't elaborate； and now he seemed softened up with unhappiness and willing to talk。
〃But I imagine that there are others； and that they'll e to disturb our peace。 They won't have a good reason。 They never do。 They'll want to hunt the Veneto； or they will have formed some willful little battalion； and they'll try to destroy us out of sheer sport。 I imagine 。。。 but the point is； my child…and you are my child； smart one！…I don't tell you any more about the ancient mysteries than you need to know。 That way； no one can pick your apprentice mind for its deepest secrets； either with your cooperation or without your knowledge； or against your will。〃
〃If we have a history worth knowing； Sir； then you should tell me。 What ancient mysteries？ You wall me up with books on human history。 You've made me learn Greek； and even this miserable Egyptian script which no one else knows； and you question me all the time on the fate of ancient Rome and ancient Athens； and the battles of every Crusade ever sent from our shores to the Holy Land。 But what of us？〃
〃Always here；〃 he said； 〃I told you。 Ancient as mankind itself。 Always here； and always a few； and always warring and best when alone and needing the love only of one other or two at most。 That's the history； plain and simple。 I will expect you to write it out for me in all five languages you now know。〃
He sat down on the bed； disgruntled； letting his muddy boot dig into the satin。 He fell back on the pillows。 He was really raw and strange and seemingly young。
〃Marius； e on now；〃 I coaxed。 I was at the desk。 〃What ancient mysteries？ What are Those Who Must Be Kept？〃
〃Go dig into our dungeons； child；〃 he said； lacing his voice with sarcasm。 〃Find the statues there I have from so…called pagan days。 You'll find things as useful as Those Who Must Be Kept。 Leave me alone。 I'll tell you some night； but for now； I give you what counts。 In my absence you were supposed to study。 Tell me now what you learnt。〃
He had in fact demanded that I learn all of Aristotle； not from the manuscripts which were mon currency in the piazza； but from an old text of his own which he said was purer Greek。 I'd read it all。
〃Aristotle；〃 I said。 〃And St。 Thomas Aquinas。 Ah； well； great systems give fort； and when we feel ourselves slipping into despair； we should devise great schemes of the nothing around us； and then we will not slip but hang on a scaffold of our making； as meaning