buried his head in his book for the rest of the journey. Now and
then he makes a note in tiny handwriting, no easy task given the
lurching carriage. Antonio looks out of the window, asking himself
what he has achieved with this journey. The fifteen ducats given
him by Luca Casimiro are not even enough to cover his return fare
to Venice. How is he to earn a decent income? He will have to
achieve success as a composer before he is invited to write concerti
and give performances in the palaces of regents and the aristocracy.
Damn it, I keep going round and round in circles, he thinks,
rubbing his hands to warm them.
It is already dark by the time they arrive at their lodgings
for the night, and the landlord is clearly not expecting such late
guests. The coachman has to give a couple of good thumps on the
door before it is answered. Antonio and his companion are ushered
inside and the horses taken to the stable. It is warm indoors, and
the three men sitting enjoying themselves noisily at a table turn
round to welcome the frozen Andrea and Antonio. The group
apparently comprises two Englishmen and a guide, all on their way
to Florence. The landlord pokes the fire into life and in a generous
gesture throws on more two logs. He offers the two new guests a
most welcome chair beside the fire and soon the clothes of the
priest and the traveller from Vicenza are steaming and their cheeks
have regained some colour. They have been offered soup, and
although Antonio is not quite sure what it is made of he is more
than grateful for the warm liquid. After putting away plenty of
bread as well, he makes his way to bed, tired and rosy-faced from
the fire. The inn is small and cramped, with just two upstairs
rooms, so that he is going to have to share a bed with Andrea
Farsetti. And actually the term ‘bed’ is a misnomer for the heap of
straw covered with a damp and dirty sheet. The lantern gives very
little light, which Antonio considers no bad thing: ‘what the eyes
don’t see the heart doesn’t grieve over!’ This inn surely can’t be any
filthier than the many others he has slept in during his travels. But
he keeps his clothes on and uses his cloak as a blanket.
Downstairs the Englishmen are in fine fettle, giving
78
43-97 Chapter 2.indd 78 22-11-2007 14:09:13
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