Word spread like a contagion through the city.
Rumours abounded, drawing more and more people to the shop. The new brew was said to be an extremely effective stimulant, a brain tonic, a blood regulator, and an aid to digestion and curative for various stomach ailments. The bitter black liquor was even whispered to possess potent aphrodisiacal properties. All this hearsay was discussed in low tones over the steaming cups.
Mina, in a light and pleasant manner, encouraged all speculation as she went about serving the tables, chatting to her customers, learning their names and trades and personal tastes. She flitted about the room like an agreeable sprite, encouraging a hesitant first taste here, offering a free sample there, making sure everyone felt at ease and welcome in the cosy shop.
“We need more help,” Wilhelmina announced as Etzel locked the door one night.
“Ja,” he agreed, “this is just what I am thinking.”
“Also, we need more beans. We are almost out.”
Etzel frowned. “How much is left?”
“Two weeks-give or take a day or two.” She saw the frown deepen on his wide, good-natured face. “Why, what’s wrong?”
“This will not be so easy,” he said, reminding her how he had stumbled upon the beans by accident in the first place. “I think we must go to Venice, and that is very far away.”
“How far?”
He gave his round shoulders a heave. “A month-maybe two. I have never been there, so I cannot say.”
Mina’s eyebrows puckered with thought. “Obviously, we should have begun searching the moment we opened the shop. This requires a permanent solution,” she said, thinking aloud. “We need a steady supply. We must have a source.” She laid a finger to her lips and tapped lightly. “What we need is…”
“Arnostovi,” said Englebert. “He knows everyone. Maybe he knows someone who can get the Kaffee beans for us.”
“You are right,” affirmed Mina. “We shall ask him first thing tomorrow.”
The busy landlord was freshly installed at what had become his favourite table and the seat of his chair was not yet warm when Wilhelmina approached him with a gratis cup of coffee and a proposition. “How is trade?” asked the man of business.
“Better and better, Herr Arnostovi,” replied Mina, drawing up a chair herself, which caused the bushy Arnostovi eyebrows to raise in mild surprise. “In fact, business has been better than we anticipated. As you can imagine, this is not without its problems.”
“Good problems,” observed the landlord. “I always prefer this kind of problem over the other kind.”
“Indeed,” agreed Mina lightly. “Yet, problems must be solved nonetheless. For example, the beans we use to make the Kaffee are beginning to run low. Naturally, we must have more if we are to continue bringing our fashionable and highly successful new product to Praha.”
“Naturally,” confirmed Arnostovi cautiously. A master of many meetings like this, he recognized a preamble to a proposal when he heard one. “Pray, continue.”
“We would like to know if you know of any traders calling at Venice,” Mina told him. “That is the best place to get our supplies.”
Herr Arnostovi took a sip of his hot coffee and thought before answering. “Venice is very far away, Fraulein Wilhelmina. The only way is by sea, of course.”
“If you say so,” replied Mina.
“Alas, I know of no one who makes such journeys at the moment.”
“Oh.” Mina felt her hopes plummet. “I see.”
“However,” added Arnostovi, “I am not a man without some resources. It has been in my mind to acquire a participation in a merchant ship. If I were to do this, a journey to Venice for purposes of trade could be arranged.”
Mina bit her lip. She could feel the pinch coming. “Yes?”
“Of course,” proceeded the man of business, “I would require a substantial financial incentive to undertake such a venture.”
“I would have it no other way,” Wilhelmina assured him. “Providing, of course, that the necessary supplies reached us in a timely manner. We must have supplies soon.”
“How soon, Fraulein?”
“Two weeks,” Mina told him, “more or less.”
“That is not much time for such a journey.”
“No,” Mina allowed, “but there it is.”
“Then let us come to terms,” said the landlord, as the plan crystallised in his mind. “I will engage the ship at my own expense and obtain the supplies-not one time only, but in the future also as need requires. In return for this service, you will make me a partner in this Kaffee business of yours.”
“You want to be a partner?” Mina was already counting the cost of this proposal.
“Fifty-fifty.” Arnostovi watched her, stroking his pointed beard. “Well? What do you say?”
“Seventy-five-twenty-five,” countered Mina.
“Sixty-forty.” Arnostovi took another sip of the hot, oily liquid.
“Sixty-five-thirty-five,” said Mina, “but if I am to pay for the beans, then I also share in the profits from the ship.”
“No.” Arnostovi shook his head. “Impossible.”
“Of course, I can always send Englebert to Venice instead,” Mina reminded him. “It would take longer, but…”
“Two percent share,” conceded the landlord with a sigh.
“Five,” countered Wilhelmina.
“Three,” said Arnostovi, “and that is all.”
“After deducting all expenses.”
“As you say.”
“Also,” continued Mina smoothly, “we will receive a reduction in rent on this shop, and first pick of your other properties as and when they become available.”
This caused the Arnostovi eyebrows to jump once more. “Another shop?”
Wilhelmina gave him a solemn nod.
“Very well,” conceded Arnostovi. “You shall have this shop for half of what you pay now-which is little enough, I might add.”
“Nevertheless.”
“You are a shrewd woman of business, Miss Wilhelmina,” the landlord said approvingly. “We have an agreement.” He put down his cup and extended his hand. “We shake on this,” he said. “From this day forward, we are in the shipping business together.”
CHAPTER 18
In Which Arthur Meets an Avenging Angel
The two dockland roughnecks on either side of Arthur Flinders-Petrie maintained a powerful grip on his arms, which were bent painfully behind him as he was frog-marched from the House of Peace Inn and propelled down along a noisome alleyway that led to a derelict yard. Earl Burleigh followed a short distance behind to discourage any curious onlookers from becoming involved in the proceedings.
The unresisting captive was dragged into the centre of the yard. Arthur gazed around, searching in vain for a means of escape. There was none. The deserted patch of waste ground was surrounded on three sides by the blind backs of the buildings fronting the dock-storehouses, boat sheds, fishing huts, dilapidated dwellings-and on the fourth by the alley entrance. “What do you want from me?” Arthur demanded, looking from one to the other of his captors.
The answer came from Burleigh. “I’ve already told you, Arthur. I want to share in your discoveries. I want to learn your secrets.”
“You don’t know what you’re asking,” he protested. “You have no idea.”
“I think I do,” replied Burleigh. “In any event, it doesn’t matter. Since you refuse to share, I have no alternative but to take it all for myself.”
“Let me go,” pleaded Arthur. “Hurting me will avail you nothing. I won’t tell you anything. Believe me, I will not be forced.”
“Oh, I do believe you,” answered Burleigh. “More’s the pity.” He nodded to his men.