Chapter 29: Conspiracy
The sound of horse hooves could be heard from the end of the cobblestone street. The main streets of Florence would be lit with gas lamps after nightfall, but this street was clearly not within the city’s main scope of urban planning. Although it was located in the aristocratic upper district, it unfortunately didn’t receive enough light despite being connected to two major road arteries.
The few gas lamps that were installed were mostly damaged. There was a hissing sound of air rushing through the lamp tubes, but the feeble light never ignited.
A small carriage emerged from the gloom. The coachman carefully guided the horse. Although the carriage was equipped with a convenient steam system, for some reason, it was not activated. Perhaps such a quiet, conspiratorial night was not suitable for excessive noise. In any case, it glided silently to the front of a mansion.
Two ornate iron gates blocked the carriage’s path. The coachman halted the horse, and a guard stepped forward, approaching the carriage window. He held a primitive oil lamp in his hand, the glass lampshade sooty and hazy. Through the dim light, he saw half a face peering out of the carriage window.
“Very well, sir,” the guard turned and opened the gate, pulling the heavy iron gate open just wide enough for the carriage to pass through.
The carriage drove in with a clatter.
There were no lights on in the house, which was quite unusual for the extravagant Florentine nobles.
A figure cloaked in black stepped down from the carriage. He was completely covered in a black cloak, his hood obscuring most of his face. Not a single inch of his clothing was visible.
He refused the coachman’s hand, jumped from the carriage, and rushed through the front door with eager and quick steps.