When don Arsago announced that he was going to arrange a masquerade on the Night of the Thousand Lights, Alessandro`s first thought was that his patron had gone mad. Inviting guests and having fun while a poisoner was lurking somewhere in the house and while half the patricians inquired daily about the Doge's health, forming new political alliances and deceiving each other didn`t seem a good idea at all. How on earth was he supposed to provide the Count`s safety?

There were so many festivals in Venetta that sometimes there were several of them on just one day. However, the Night of the Thousand Lights was really special. It was a night of remembrance, guilt and forgiveness.

Two hundred years ago the plague came to Venetta. That autumn, a Venetian galley returned from a trading voyage to Kaffa and brought black rats that spread the infection. The medics couldn`t do anything as they were unfamiliar with the new illness. The sick died in the streets, their bodies were floating in the canals. The priests in the churches called for repentance and denounced the rich, who were mired in luxury and had brought the God`s wrath upon all. Frightened by the mass deaths, the Venettian authorities ordered to remove all the infected to the nearby island of Santo Spirito, which was soon renamed Lazaretto. Everyone was taken there – the dead, the dying, and even those who seemed healthy but suspicious. The conditions of the sick were so terrible that many people threw themselves into the waters of the lagoon, preferring to drown in the waves than to be taken on that cursed island where the smoke plumes from burning bodies were rising day and night. People said that some sick had managed to sneak back from the island to Venetta.

The city turned into a chaos, a paroxysm of despair, self-loathing and suspicion. And one night a terrible fire broke out on the Lazaretto, leaving no one alive. A red glow was dancing all night, making the Venettians cry from guilt and relief.

After that the plague receded. Only the charred, blackened ruins of Lazaretto remained as a mute reproach to all the citizens. The fishermen stayed away from it and believed that one could still hear the moans and cries of the restless souls forced to wander over the lagoon. In the end, the cursed island gradually disappeared under the water and was no longer seen. But since then, on the anniversary of that terrible night, the church bells have rung all over Venetta and lots of lamps, torches and candles were lit in memory of the innocent souls that died in the fire.

Everyone celebrated the Night – the noble patricians and the beggars. Hundreds, thousands of lights lit up the winding calles and little campos. The Grand Canal itself turned a flamy river and some believed that the ghosts could use that luminous road to get home for one night.

The tradition was strictly honoured every year. Even now, when the Doge was slowly dying in the Golden Palace and the future of the city was as dim as the morning mist over the lagoon, the merriment in the city was in full swing. People turned to their tested way to distract from problems − music and fun. The terraces of many houses were decorated with festive poles, entwined with flowers and ribbons. That sign announced that a party was being prepared in the house, and everyone was welcomed there.

When the day came, Alessandro ordered to put such a pole at the pier in front of the Arsago`s house. After that he brought the Count a plan that made don Arsago whistle: almost every guest had to be accompanied by a guard.

“Well, that's too much even for you! We are not preparing for a siege – it`s just a feast!”

"Better safe than sorry,” Alessandro muttered.

In his opinion, don Arsago had been acting strange in the last few days. It wasn`t like him to be so careless. Previously he would never forgive anyone if they had sneaked into his secret room. However, when Scarpa told him about the scene senhoritas Julia and Ines made in his study, he just burst into laughing.

"Oh, these women! Their curiosity knows no bounds. If you forbid them to enter a room, they would do it right away. Let just get away with it, those little fools are already frightened to death. And by the way, remind me to take the key from the castellan.”

Given that case concerned Julia, Alessandro could only sigh with relief. But he would not underestimate a woman's curiosity if he were the Count. The girls were obviously up to something.... In the last few days Julia looked down in the mouth, and Ines escaped to the nearest church every single morning. He should have sent someone to follow her but all his men were busy with the forthcoming feast.

The Count was equally indifferent to Guido's penitent report that they hadn`t caught Manriolo yet. You might think, don Arsago didn't care at all about him.

"As long as Falieri's men don't find him before we do, it`s fine," he said with a phlegmatic shrug. "They don't care whether he is guilty or not; the executioner will make this man confess anything, even that I personally supplied him with poison for the Doge.”

Alessandro turned to the window, pretending to be suddenly interested in what was happening on the canal. Every day he had to conceal more and more facts from his lord as one mystery lead to the other. A vicious circle of endless lies.

He was disgusted with the pretense. What`s more, he thought he could get mixed up as he wasn`t used to lying at all. In uncertain times even a small lie could lead to big trouble. But his instincts told him he had to puzzle it out himself before telling anything to the Count.

He felt a pinch of jealousy when don Arsago appeared at the masquerade with senhorita Julia hand in hand. Alessandro wondered what the hell was going on: the Count insisted that Enrique should stay in Patava and even forbade him to visit his sick mother. The journey could be too dangerous, he said. Julia`s brother was away, too. And no one in the house ever mentioned the wedding again, while don Arsago himself showered Julia with his attention in front of everyone. What was he up to? And what game was she playing? That situation already caused the guest`s unhealthy interest and cunning whispers behind Julia`s back. Everyone knew that donna Arsago, owing to her illness, was unable to perform the duties of hostess tonight, but no one expected that the Count would confer this right on his future daughter-in-law.

To tell the truth, Julia had done brilliantly well. Standing beside the Count in a blaze of scarlet velvet and gold lace, she greeted her guests with ease, finding a witty joke or a warm word for each of them. Alessandro had always been surprised at how easily she could adjust to her companion, but tonight she really outdid herself.

Her ability to change masks was really second to none. Maybe that was the reason she didn`t put on the mask like the other guests. She only tucked a thin piece of Venettian lace behind the comb and let it cover her face to her lips instead.

"Her face is a real mask itself", Alessandro thought with a sudden gush of anger, "so beautiful and utterly deceitful!" He didn`t recognize the modest and awkwardly shy Julia in that splendid beauty. Where was the girl who hid under the mourning veil from any man`s look like a clam in a shell?

How could you know which one was real?

It was also disconcerting that Julia's energetic manner seemed vaguely familiar. His keen eyes could not help noticing every tilt of her head, her every smile and every gesture.... Come on, he told himself critically, just admit that you enjoy looking at her.

“Enjoy” wasn't quite the right word. He felt that this girl was his real soulmate than nobody else in the world. Well, at least he used to think that until tonight. Julia that was standing in front of him seemed a complete strange to him. It looked as if she had decided to try on the role of a seductive beauty once again, as on the day they first met.

Remembering her naive, half-childish coquetry and stunning pink robe made him chuckle. Then he caught her eye. Of course, the girl could not help noticing his indecently importunate attention. The Julia he knew would probably have been embarrassed and tried to hide herself in the crowd. Tonight's socialite did not hesitate to accept the challenge. With a dazzling smile, she headed straight for him.

***

I had been waiting for that masquerade more than anything else in my life. That could help me escape from the worries and unrest of the last few days! Ines and I (as well as the other members of the household who knew what we had done) were terribly worried about what kind of punishment signor Arsago would think of. Our hearts started beating wildly as the Count returned home that evening and cunning Scarpa caught him right on the stairs and started whispering into his ear. We could see them through the open door of the saloon. Ines, who was sitting next to me, turned pale.

"Oh! I need to get up to my room," she suddenly remembered.

“No, stay here!” I said.

We were surprised to hear don Arsago`s loud laughter. He muttered something, pulled the jester's cap over his nose, and went away. He only bowed mockingly to us as he passed the door. Was that all?! I felt a little disappointed.

But even more frustrating was that I hadn't made any progress in my search. No matter how much time I spent looking into the room plan, I still had no idea where the secret door was hidden. I wanted to visit the room again, but we didn`t have the key and Ines refused point blank to help me. Something in the mirror made a lasting impression on her. She was praying non-stop and managed to surpassed donna Assunta in her piety, going to church every single day.

“When does she have time to sin, I wonder? She spends hours and hours in the reconciliation room,” aunt snorted.

Surprisingly enough, we became really close with my aunt. I knew that she still didn`t trust me and always kept a watchful eye on me. However, she protected me from Joanna's idle curiosity, and she told the maids off when they whispered some nonsense about me. They claimed that their milk turned to blood in the kitchen when I passed the door, and they heard strange noises inside my room... Many people were afraid of me in that house.

I dragged the old mirror from my bedroom into the dressing room, leaning it "face" against the wall. It seemed safer that way. A new crescent moon glittered in the sky. At night, when I lay awake, I could hear its shining silver tinkling. The sea beyond Dito's red shoals was still slumbering, but in a couple of weeks fortnight I could call them. Was it worth it? I still didn`t know who I should point them to.

I received two more invitations from the gondoliers to come to St. Marina's church in the afternoon, and I ignored both of them. All my determination was gone. It felt as if the old house had trapped me. Pulcino, after much persuasion, agreed to watch the glass roof of the room, but all in vain. No one entered the room, no one disturbed the trinkets that slumbered in the dusty light.

When don Arsago announced the masquerade, Assunta shook her head and took another black dress from the chest. I mentally rolled my eyes. Her hypocrisy was sometimes startling! She hated donna Granacci when she was alive, yet she continued to honor her memory.

"Don't you think, auntie, that mourning at a masquerade is too much?" I asked cautiously.

"Just in case," Assunta said, her tone grim and foreboding.

I started to protest, but I remembered in time how the previous party at don Arsago's house had ended. So I said nothing and helped her with the arrangements.

Nevertheless, in spite of Alessandro di Goro's overzealousness about our security and Assunta's gloomy predictions, the evening began very cheerfully.

I had never been to Venetta on a night of a Thousand Lights before. The sight of the Grand Canal, lit up by bursts of bright flames, was really fascinating. No one went to bed that night. All the houses were brightly lit and the music could be heard everywhere. We were ready, too. The walls of the salon were covered with ceremonial tapestries, which made them bloom again with fresh colors. The fabric was woven with fantastic monsters: griffins, wild cats with human heads, colorful tigers, dragons... It seemed in the flickering uneven candlelight that the fabulous world of gobelins came to life. Small tables of wine, fruit, and soft drinks were set up everywhere, and lanterns were hung on the terrace.

Our mood was a little clouded by the illness of donna Arsago, who was so weak that she could not even appear at the festival. I was taken aback when the Count suddenly offered me to welcome his guests as his future daughter-in-law.

“Well, who else should he ask? Not Joanna, of course,” Assunta said, helping me with my dress. Her old dislike of Donna Joanna only grew stronger with time.

"What`s more, you're almost his family."

Hope I will never get such honor, I thought, nervously smoothing my skirt with my hands.

I was so nervous about the responsibility that I tried my best not to lose face. The guests arrived one by one, and an hour later I was dazzled by silks and velvets of every colour. Don Arsago was popular in Venetta, and his house was famous for a good wine, so the guests came flocking. The welcoming smile seemed to stick to my lips forever.

Blinded by the restless whirl of colours, I finally rested my eyes on just one dark-purple modest doublet. That was Alessandro, as he was the only one who didn`t wear a mask that night. He tried to stand aside as if to emphasize that he was here as a guard not a guest. I also noticed that at the beginning of the evening he often glanced at me but did not dare to approach.

Well, tonight a lady could take the initiative. No one was allowed to stand with a gloomy face and scare the other guests! After all, I was the mistress of the house, at least for now.

Thinking so, I cautiously made my way through the crowd. Alessandro didn't take a step toward me, but I felt his gaze on my face. I didn`t know where I got that courage. It was as if the light lace covering my face made me unrecognizable and a little alien. Now I could understand Joanna: a mask gave you a pleasant sense of freedom with a hint of daring bravado. The hum of gay voices, the music, and the rustle of festive dresses made me a bit giddy. Tonight was a carnival, so I could do anything I wanted to!

Alessandro, judging by his stern expression, doesn't think so.

"Good evening, mask," he said. A snow-white smile lit up his face for a moment, then faded almost immediately, like a candle blown out.

His benevolent calmness made me forget all witty phrases I`d prepared for him. Any words seemed not good enough. I wish he'd just asked me to dance! Dance doesn`t require any words at all…

Are there words way to explain the sudden feeling of recognition, even intimacy, that one feels to a stranger? No. Words are like a rusty mirror, they don`t allow you to see a real person.

Such a pity Alessandro didn`t show any intention to ask me to dance...

"Come on, don't be so serious," I began with a smile. “Don Arsago is right, gloomy thoughts are really contagious. Looking at you, I think, I`ll become gloomy too.”

His gray eyes stared at me. Too long and narrowly, I should say.

“That`s what you can do really well,” he finally said, and the tone of his voice sent a chill up my spine. You could freeze an entire lagoon with such tone.

“What do you mean?" I asked, though I knew I shouldn't. The conversation veered off again. For some reason it happened every time we talked.

“Don`t you know?” his tome was almost angry then. “You`re like a mirror. You can adapt yourself to anyone. You are friendly and gentle with Ines, but you become mocking and witty with Ricardo. Bianca thinks you're a very sensible girl, and Joanna somehow sees you as a flirt and a gossip like herself. It's strange, isn't it? I wonder what you really are. What is your real face, Julia?”

My festive mood burst with a clink like a glass. I really shouldn`t talk to him. Now all I ever wanted was to hide somewhere from his searching insight and the ability to see much more than you were ready to show.

At least I had the composure to smile.

"Well, you know what? I see you're not bored here, so if you excuse me, I'll leave you alone with your incredible insight. Enjoy the carnival!”

And I retreated quickly, hoping that it didn`t look like an escape.

“Julia!” I heard his voice but didn`t stop. On the contrary, I quickened my pace.