Page 134 of The Robber Knight
Reuben didn't exactly see what needed to befinalized, but he followed the innkeeper anyway. The man had beenso friendly and obliging.
When Reuben arrived in the parlor, the littleman was standing behind a desk and had taken out slate, chalk, andan abacus.
“Now then,suaEccellenza, how many nights were you planning on stayingin my beautiful inn?”
Reuben shrugged. “Oh, I don't really know. Aslong as I like, I think. Certainly for the duration of thetournament. I intend to see it through to the end.”
“I'm suresuaEccellenzawill carry away the great prize!” the littleman said, tapping his abacus impatiently. “And speaking ofprices...”
He made a significant pause.
Reuben didn't quite catch the significance.His stomach had started rumbling, and he was beginning to wonderwhat kind of food they served here in Sicily.
“Err... yes?” he said, distractedly.
“I was thinking,suaEccellenza... the tournament will last at least a week,with all the festivities that are planned, so shall we say a week,for now, including meals.”
“Yes, certainly, certainly.”
The small beads on the abacus clickedsignificantly as the little man shuffled them from one side to theother. Reuben wondered why he was doing this, but stopped as hisstomach rumbled again.
“Well,suaEccellenza, that will be threetariand twenty-sevengrani, please.
The innkeeper held his hand open. Reubenlooked at it in confusion for a moment, then the penny literallydropped. Oh! The man was asking for money. How tedious andcommon.
He did his best to ignore the innkeeper’sopen hand.
“I'll pay after the tournament. For now, Ihave different things in mind. I was wondering...”
“But... why would you not give me the moneynow, if you have it?” the innkeeper interrupted. His broad smilewasn't quite as friendly as before.
“Well, I don't have itnow.” Reuben waved that unimportant detail awaywith a motion of his hand. “But don't worry, after I've collectedprize money at the tournament, you'll get your due. Now, can youhave my things brought up to my room?”
“Let me be sure I understand you.” By now,the smile of the innkeeper wasn't really a smile anymore. He wasn’tcalling Reuben “sua Eccellenza”anymore, either. “You are offering to pay me with money you don'thave.”
“Well, as I said, not now, but it's only amatter of time. By the way, when do you serve dinner? I would likesomething hearty, something to...”
“Get out.”
“What?”
“Get out, I said,” the innkeeper commanded,his fat chin jutting forward. He slammed the slate and abacus downon his desk. “We have no use for beggars and vagabonds here.”
Reuben raised an eyebrow. “My good sir, Iknow it cannot be your intention, but if you are not careful I willbe in danger of thinking you impolite.”
“Diable! Youhave some cheek! Get out now, or I'll see that you crawl out!”
“Furthermore,” Reuben added, “you seem to bequestioning my honor and status, and even threatening me. That isnot the kind of behavior I would expect from a fellow Christian.But I will forgive you all if you tell your servants to bring mythings up to my room now, and make me a hearty meal. What do yousay, my friend?”
What the innkeeper said in reply wasdefinitely something which questioned Reuben's honor, status, andmaybe also his romantic preference for the female sex.
“Sir!” Reuben exclaimed, shocked to the core.“I must ask you to mind your language!”
“Antonio! Fredo!” Sticking two fingers intohis mouth, the innkeeper whistled shrilly. Through the door behindthe desk that apparently led to a back room, muffled noises couldbe heard. Not long after, two burly, dark-skinned fellows withcurly hair stepped out into the parlor. Their eyes fixed on Reubenimmediately.
“Throw thisbastardoout in the street immediately,” theinnkeeper commanded, pointing to the indignant knight. “I don'twant to see him here ever again.”
The two men marched towards him.
