While they waited, the water came to a boil.
Mercury measured out the tea leaves himself and began brewing tea for Richard.
When the fragrance spread, Richard raised his eyebrows.
He had to admit, the man had connections. No wonder he was such a celebrated merchant in the Apennines.
Mercury put the lid on the pot. "I still have two friends who sail the eastern routes. Each can spare me a few pounds a year.
"If you like it, you can take some with you afterward. No charge."
Between sips of tea, Mercury took out the business card again and examined it.
He had stamped this one himself, so he knew who he had given it to.
Richard set down his cup and was about to speak when Mercury beat him to it.
He smiled amiably.
"You needn't worry, sir. I know the rules. Since you've come to do business with me wearing your true face, we'll deal with each other under our true identities."
"But if I pretended not to recognize you, that would be rather ungracious of me."
He sat back down and placed the copper seal squarely in the center of the table. His meaning was clear: it still belonged to his guest.
"Forget every price I quoted earlier."
"Those were for walk-in customers. For a customer like you, we have different prices."
A knock came at the small door. Piero hurried in to clear away the coffee on the table and lay out some local pastries.
"By the way, Unc... boss, there's an elderly gentleman standing under the awning of the tobacconist's at the end of the street."
Mercury was still drinking coffee himself. He grunted. "Nothing unusual. People need shelter when it rains."
"But he's been standing there for half an hour without turning a