Isaac walked through the alleys with his head down, stopping every now and then to look around, or suddenly turning into a shop, and then just saying hello to the owner and going straight out the back door of the shop to blend back into the crowd.

After walking like this for a while, until they were finally sure that no one would be able to follow them, the Jews found a secluded junction and walked down the smooth stone steps into the depths of the alley.

It was a very dark alley, and the low-rise houses on both sides of the alley became higher and higher as the alley deepened, and the narrow steps continued downward, as if to lead people into the abyss.

Isaac walked down the smooth steps, and when he came to a small, inconspicuous door, he looked warily in both directions before knocking on the door.

A light shone through the small open window of the door and shone on Isaac's face, causing him to close his eyes.

"What are you doing here?" A disgruntled voice in the door asked, "Didn't I tell you a long time ago, don't come to us if it's okay?" ”

"Besides, someone has come to inquire about Giovanni, and it's ......," Isaac said hurriedly, and finally said the surname "Borgia" in a silent voice. ”

The people in the door seemed to be stunned for a moment, and then they couldn't help but whisper angrily: "Then what are you doing here, this will affect all of us!" ”

"I'm very careful, no one will be staring, let me in, I'm really scared, you have to help me!"

The man inside the door snorted angrily, and then slammed the small window shut, leaving Isaac outside the door at a loss.

Suddenly, a crack opened in the door, and a deep voice hurriedly sounded: "Don't stay outside, come in quickly." ”

Isaac hurriedly squeezed sideways into the door, and as soon as his figure disappeared through the crack in the door, the wooden door slammed shut.

Isaac sat in his chair with a sweat on his face, and when a young man handed him a wooden jar, he grabbed it desperately and gulped down the water.

Standing across from him was a tall middle-aged man, his head was bare, a humble checkered shirt was worn over his body, and a pair of old linen boots underneath his short-legged trousers, which had been worn a little.

No one would have believed that such an ordinary-looking man could be one of the richest men in the city of Rome, and although they would never flaunt their wealth in front of others, they were undoubtedly richer than the vast majority of Romans.

"Tell me what's going on." Unlike the man who had asked Isaac in the door, the middle-aged man didn't seem too angry or nervous, and waited for Isaac to finish drinking before asking him, "Who found you, and what did they ask you?" ”

Isaac, who had calmed down a little after drinking the water, took a breath, and he first remembered what had happened in his shop.

The middle-aged man listened very carefully, and asked several times in some doubtful places, and then he suddenly asked, "Do you mean that the Count of Montina only asked you about Giovanni Borgia from the beginning?" ”

"Yes, he seems to be only interested in Borgia's death, but that's why he's asking me what Giovanni is asking about."

"You were intimidated and told us to protect yourself, didn't you?"

The middle-aged man reached out and lifted Isaac's dejected head and looked at his swollen, bloodstained mouth.

"You coward, fool!" The person who was guarding the door before rushed forward angrily, but was stopped by the middle-aged man with his hand, "He betrayed us all!" ”

"I didn't, I just told them what Giovanni was asking about the deal, I didn't say what it was," Isaac also became angry, "Don't forget that Giovanni is the son of the Pope, now that he is dead, how can Alexander VI easily forget it, that Count Montina should be in charge of investigating this matter, I don't know how he will find out about me, but what do you want me to do, if I don't tell him something, he will let people kill me." ”

"He's right," said the middle-aged man, stopping his companion's rebuke, and he looked at Isaac, "I know that the Count of Montina, who is arguably one of the most powerful men in Rome at the moment, would have no scruples if he were to torture anyone in order to investigate Giovanni's death." ”

"But that shouldn't tell him," muttered the gatekeeper dissatisfiedly, "you can deceive him in other ways, you must know that these Romans are really stupid, and you can even bribe him with money, we haven't always done this, and we haven't seen anyone who doesn't accept bribes." ”

"That man probably wouldn't," said the middle-aged man, looking at Isaac who was still dejected, "and there is probably nothing more important to that Cambrai than to find out who killed Giovanni, after all, the Pope's reward is much more generous than a little bribe." ”

The gatekeeper looked at the middle-aged man in surprise: "Why, Lemoth, do you know the earl?" ”

"I've heard of this man," the middle-aged man beckoned to Isaac, "Come on, let's go meet the elders, this matter is very important, we must let them know." ”

"I know I'm in trouble, but I don't really say anything to him." Isaac kept justifying himself until he crossed the corridor and came to a large, semi-underground room.

The room had a small circular dome, and a burning torch was lit on a skell around the wall.

A few elderly Jews were sitting around a large counter full of messy ledgers and bills, and several accountants were standing in front of the small writing desks next to them, quickly recording the number of pens they had reported, and when a few people walked in the door, Isaac happened to hear an old man complimenting a fellow who was far away in Venice for making thousands of ducats for the first half of the year.

"The Venetians are too greedy, their chamber of commerce won't open its doors to us, but they want to make our money," said the old Jew dissatisfied, "but our people are doing well this time, the Venetians make the world's money, and we make the Venetians." ”

The old man's words were approvingly acknowledged by the others around the counter, who paused and nodded in agreement, then lowered their heads to check the ledgers in their hands.

The middle-aged man named Lemo walked up to the old Jew and whispered something to him, and as he listened, the old man's face, which had been full of satisfaction, slowly sank.

He leaned sideways and whispered to another old man next to him, and after a while everyone at the counter looked at Isaac, and with a wave of Levid's hand, several of the men next to him left, and finally with the sound of the door closing, everything in the room was cut off.

Isaac looked at these people uneasily, of course he knew who they were, and he knew what these people meant to his fate, if in the end they felt that he was guilty, then he would be declared banished, and then not to mention Rome, almost no city would have a place for him.

"What does that Gombray want, is it Giovanni's murderer or wants to know our deal?"

The old man, who was apparently in the highest position, pondered carefully, looked at Levi standing beside him, and then looked at Isaac.

"Tell me, didn't you really say anything else to him?"

"I could really swear it," Isaac argued nervously, "he'd been asking about Giovanni Borgia, and it was clear that he was here for it. ”

"Giovanni Borgia's death has nothing to do with us," said an old man, slowly, "and maybe he did find something, but none of us did such stupid things." ”

"But if that Cambrai wants to find the murderer, he may find us," the old man tapped lightly on the counter with his stiff fingers, "and we all know what he wants to investigate, so it has something to do with us." ”

The old men were gathered together to discuss, their voices were so small that Isaac could not hear them, and from their low and solemn expressions, it was evident that they were not optimistic about the development of the matter.

"We must find a way to stop that Cambrai," the old man at the head looked at Isaac, his eyes making the Jew a little frightened, "We may not be able to use their intrigues like the nobles, but our money will help us out of our troubles." ”

As he spoke, he turned his head to look at the middle-aged man who was standing next to him and was silent.

Lemo nodded silently, he seemed to understand the meaning of the old man's words, and after a moment of silence he spoke, "But we should also be prepared, after all, that transaction is too important to us, and if it is found in our hands, it may cause big trouble." ”

His proposal was met with nods from the old men, and then several of them lowered their voices and whispered.

Isaac looked at Levi with a pleading look, he knew that this man could still speak in front of these elders, and Isaac wanted to ask this man to defend him a few words, but seeing that he was silent, he swallowed the words back.

"The triple crown must be sent to a safe place," the old men finally finished their discussion, and the leader of the elders said to the two men, "that Gombray may find the triple crown if he continues to investigate, after all, it is because of this that Giovanni was killed by those men." ”

The old man's cheeks twitched as he spoke, for it was difficult for his hands to pick up arms, and because of the ostracism to which Jews had always been subjected, the thought of murder was a chill.

"But where to go," said Levius, a little worriedly, "neither Venice nor any other city is safe, and if that Cambrai must be investigated, a clue will still be found." ”

"Where," said the old man's gaze, which fell on the apprehensive Isaac, "you, though you have not betrayed us completely, have said enough to cause trouble for all of us, and you should be expelled according to the dogma," said the old man, pausing before he continued to say that Isaac, who seemed to be fainting after understanding this, "but now there is a chance for you to atone for your sins, and you take the triple crown and send it to a place where no one can find out." ”

Isaac looked at the old man dumbfounded, he thought he would be punished by expulsion, but he didn't expect to suddenly get such an important task.

"Do you still want to believe me?" Isaac asked uneasily, "After all, I made such a big mistake. ”

"It's not a reward but a punishment," the old man corrected him, "you must leave the city of Rome at once, that Cambrai may come back to you, and then you may not be able to stand it, so you have to get out of here, and this is also the punishment of expulsion, and you can only come back after you have been forgiven, and you must take good care of the triple crown in the meantime." ”

Isaac nodded urgently, he knew he had to atone for his previous mistakes, and now that he had to seize such an opportunity.

"As for that Cambrai," the old man looked at Levi beside him, "we can't let him make trouble for us, so we need the help of a friend." ”

Lemo nodded silently.

Isaac was led to a room by Levid, and when he saw the two men carefully taking out a box from the secret grid, Isaac couldn't help but lick his lips slightly.

"You must leave Rome at once, and go at dawn," said Levid, handing Isaac the box and a heavy money bag, "and don't go back to your gold shop, for the money is enough for your journey, don't get into trouble, and when you get there, someone will arrange for you to stay, and then you won't do anything but wait for news from us." ”

Isaac nodded, he knew that he had to listen to this man's arrangement, although there were many things he didn't know, but now he could only do what the elders told him.

After arranging Isaac, Levi returned to his original house.

Seeing him, the Grand Elder motioned for him to come closer.

"Do you think that Isaac can do this?"

"He's a little timid, but this man is still very loyal and careful," Lemo nodded, "I've had people watch him before, and it's true that no one is following him, or I've dumped him." ”

"That's good," the elder breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at Levi and said seriously, "We must be careful about that Cambrai, although he is looking for the murderer of Giovanni Borgia, but I always feel that he will cause us a lot of trouble, maybe it is time for those people to help us solve this problem, and do not forget that we have paid them enough, and now is the time to recover the interest." ”

"I'm going to the Bishop Alfonso, maybe he can do something for us, and it's about him, if he doesn't want people to know that he is borrowing money from the Jews, he has to help us."

Listening to Lemo's words, the elder finally nodded in satisfaction.

As soon as the sky was bright, the fresh morning breeze blew away the last sweltering heat of the night before, and the slight pale of the eastern sky drove away the dim twilight, and drew the distant undulating horizon into two distinct colors.

The streets are still quiet, many people are still asleep, and no one is going out so early.

A small door slammed into a crack, and then closed as a man flashed out of it.

Isaac was dressed in a semi-long robe called Kogo, which is very popular nowadays, and wore a thin felt hat on his head that was softly tilted to the side, which was the usual dress of a businessman who went out at this time, and such a person would not attract much attention wherever he appeared, and even if he was seen walking down the street so early, he would only be regarded as a very diligent businessman.

This is just the right fit for Isaac, who is now in a hurry to get out of the city.

Isaac hurried down the street, a large and complex ghetto, which was a good thing for long-time residents, as it was not easy to find out what kind of trade was going on in the low, cluttered shops that were full of low, jumble shops.

But now Isaac must get out of here as soon as possible, and for him he can only be safe if he blends in with the ordinary Romans, and then gets out of the city as soon as possible.

The Jew cautiously walked through the streets, and as he left the ghetto, his heart relaxed slightly, and by this time the number of people in the streets gradually increased.

Isaac squeezed into the crowd, passing through a group of servants who had come out in the morning to buy the day's fresh food for his master, and hurried past a beggar nestled on the side of the road, and looking at the growing number of people in the street in front of him, Isaac told himself not to be nervous, just calm as usual.

The outline of the gate loomed in the distance, and Isaac slowed down to relax his slightly nervous mood before he walked into a shop not too far from the gate with wheels hanging on.

This is a long-established inn in the city of Rome, from which you can rent a carriage in partnership with other merchants, and even hire a bodyguard if the price is enough.

Isaac was in a hurry to leave Rome, but considering that the road was not smooth, he decided to spend money on a stagecoach here.

Isaac's luck didn't make him wait long, a stagecoach to the port was full, listening to the guys in the car shop keep shouting and asking if he needed a bodyguard, Isaac hesitated a little, and suggested to the people in the car to share the cost and hire a bodyguard.

It's not that Isaac can't afford to hire a bodyguard alone, but he is smart not to do so, and he doesn't attract anyone's attention except for a few stingy merchants who have agreed to share a little more with him after bargaining.

Leaning against the planks of the high carriage behind the carriage, Isaac listened to the noise of people outside, a little drowsy.

The carriage had left the city of Rome and was heading down the main road towards the harbor.

Hop on board and head south along the Tyrenian Sea, where Isaac is destined for Sicily.

In Sicily, there were many Jews who were expelled from the Iberian Peninsula by Queen Isabella of Castile.

Some of the Jews went to Egypt and the Ottoman Empire on the other side of the Mediterranean, while others gradually scattered on islands in the Mediterranean.

The slightly salty sea breeze blowing in the distance woke Isaac from a nap, and he habitually touched the huge package next to him, and touched the bulging contents inside, Isaac relieved himself.

Isaac's luck seemed to be surprisingly good, and he thought that he should have to wait a few days before he had a ship, but he was surprised to hear that he was going to Barletta that day, and that the ship would stop in Messina in Sicily on the way.

After paying a reasonable price, Isaac got on the ship, which was said to belong to a certain Neapolitan countess.

Isaac was still nervous and uneasy before the ship left the shore, until he saw the gangplank lowered, the cable untied, and with a horn, the ship slowly left the shore.

Isaac, who had been standing by the boat gang and watching the shore, finally breathed a long sigh of relief, knowing that no one could find him but his own.

The Jew whistled a rare blow toward the fading shore, and then he turned to return to the cabin below.

At that moment, he saw a young Moorish man who seemed to be somewhat familiar, with a smile on his face.