Part 28 (2/2)
”For the reason I just gave you. Your style and his are not all that far apart, which will make the transfer easier for Francesca than if she were to be placed with anyone else.”
”I don't understand Master Visser's motive. Surely he is aware that de Hooch's work has changed in his new surroundings? It has become mechanical and mannered in his bowing to popular taste for grander scenes with men and women in French silks and satins.”
”He is still the best choice.”
”No!” In a blaze of fury Jan slammed a fist into his palm. ”Even if I were prepared to let Francesca go, which I'm not, I'd refuse to see her fluid style and her individual control of light broken down and lost!”
Ludolf frowned and tapped a finger on the table. ”I don't want that sort of aggressiveness. Perhaps I haven't made it clear that you are to be well compensated for the lost year or two you would otherwise have given her.”
”She is not up for sale!”
”You're twisting my offer. It was not made in that vein. I have her interests at heart too. But it will not be long before she is a wife and mother. Painting can never be more than a hobby for her. So what can a change of style matter?”
Jan, supposing that this man had caught some gist of Francesca and Pieter's eventual marriage plans, decided it would be wiser for their sakes to make a show of ignorance on that point. ”Her personal life doesn't come into this discussion. It matters to me”-here Jan rammed a thumb to his chest-”that she may reach the ranks of our best contemporary artists and I'll not see her chance thrown away.”
Ludolf's face was thunderous. ”Enough of this argument. I'll pay you double what you would have received for three years! Plus another two thousand guilders to cover any sales you might make of her work! Don't tell me you don't need the money, because I never do any business without finding out everything it is possible to know about the one with whom I'm dealing. You owe your baker so much it was only through borrowing from your mother-in-law that you narrowly missed having to give him a painting in lieu of your debt, which is still not fully settled. I'll not trouble to list all the other debts you have outstanding in this town. The Great Blizzard kept away potential customers from other towns, adding to your financial difficulties.” Ludolf paused for breath and straightened up, for he had leaned forward menacingly when speaking, an old trick when intent on intimidating, which he had learned long ago. His voice evened out. ”Now we have bargained long enough. I'm a generous man. How much do you want?”
”You've already had my answer.” Jan spoke with icy ferocity, not raising his voice. His control exacerbated Ludolf's anger.
”Don't be a fool!”
”Leave my premises!”
”Not before I've seen Francesca! She'll not go against her father's wishes.” Ludolf believed now that Francesca herself might prove to be his trump card.
”Oh? So she's to be brought into this after all, is she? Do you suppose you can browbeat her into changing course?”
”Surely you wouldn't keep her against her will?”
”In her case it would be for her own good, but should she prove adamant about taking up this new chance, I might feel obliged to reconsider.”
”Now you are being sensible.” Ludolf could feel mastery of the situation coming back into his hands. ”Send for her.”
”No, I've a better idea. I want her to make up her own mind independently, without any persuasion from me or coercion from you.”
”You have a blunt way of stating my part in it,” Ludolf remarked caustically, ”since I represent her father.”
Jan shrugged. ”You can scarcely expect me to pick my words! Now, next to the studio is a room that goes up through two floors, much as this gallery does, and there is an aperture with a wooden bal.u.s.trade from which it is possible to look down into it from a parlor at mid-level. I'll take you up there and you can watch and listen while I tell Francesca her father's wishes. You must make no interruption until she has made her decision. Is that agreed?”
”If you do not attempt to influence her in any way.”
”You have my word.”
Jan took Ludolf to the room with the bal.u.s.trade, a common enough feature of Dutch homes with a variance of floor levels. He did not like what he was having to do, but on second thought it had seemed the fairest way. For all he knew, it might cause Francesca much distress not to follow her father's bidding. Should she ask to be released from her apprentices.h.i.+p in order to return to Amsterdam, Jan knew he would agree to it, but he would not accept the compensation. It had not been offered as a normal settlement, but as an insulting bribe.
Francesca was surprised when Jan opened the studio door and asked her to step into the next room for a few moments. She left her work at the easel and went to him. It struck her how serious he looked.
”I have just received a disturbing request from your father, Francesca.”
When he told her what was proposed she let her hands rise and fall in disbelief. ”This is outrageous! My father has always been inconsistent, but this is going to extremes. I can only guess he has sold a painting for an exceptionally large sum and the money is burning a hole in his pocket. Why else should he think of taking me away from here and putting me to Pieter de Hooch's studio? I'll not go! Nothing shall make me!”
”You must think this over very carefully,” Jan advised.
”I have. Surely you wouldn't force me to abide by such a thoughtless whim?”
”No, I won't, Francesca. n.o.body shall remove you from my studio. You'll be a member of the Guild before that happens.” Then, as she closed her eyes in her immense relief, he added, ”Would you like to send word of your own decision to your father, explaining why you want to stay, by the messenger who brought his letter here?”
”Who came?”
Jan indicated the aperture high in the wall and saw shock register in her face. Ludolf was resting both hands on the rounded top of the bal.u.s.trade, his expression dark. He was not angry with her, only exasperated that she had made everything much more difficult for him than it had needed to be. She had taken a few steps forward as she looked up at him, her head tilted back.
”What on earth are you doing up there?” she demanded fiercely.
”It will be a lengthy explanation,” he stated crisply. ”I've voiced my reasons for being here once in this house already. I'd prefer to talk to you on your own elsewhere.”
Jan had looked from Francesca to Ludolf and back again. ”How well do you know this man?”
”He's my father's patron,” she gave back impatiently. ”Come down from up there, Ludolf. If you wish, you may walk back to Kromstraat with Clara and me. My working day is about at its end.” Then, as he disappeared from view, she turned to Jan. ”Why did he have to be there? You wouldn't have agreed to it without just cause.”
Briefly he told her all that had taken place.
When she emerged from the house there was no sign of Clara, but her sister was waiting with Ludolf. Aletta explained why she was there. ”Vrouw Wolff has invited Heer van Deventer and me to her house for dinner this evening and afterward we are to attend a concert.”
”Are we?” Francesca spoke sharply. She had had enough of everybody exerting pressure on her from all sides. This latest whim of her father's to switch her apprentices.h.i.+p had exhausted her patience. ”Well, Ludolf, let me hear your promised explanation for supporting Hendrick's mad scheme to get me back to Amsterdam. I have heard from Master Vermeer that you pressed him most strongly and wrathfully for my release.” She set a swift pace for Kromstraat and he and Aletta fell quickly into step with her.
He answered her as sharply as she had spoken to him. ”I had promised your father that I'd do everything in my power to see that his wishes were fulfilled. Why should I not? I told you long ago I held a patriarchal att.i.tude toward Hendrick that included his family.”
”Maybe you also wanted me back in Amsterdam yourself!” she challenged hotly.
”I'll not deny it. Don't be so uppish with me, Francesca, because I'm in no mood for that. In the gallery I lost my temper with Vermeer. It was the last thing I intended to have happen, but he riled me, as I did him. It's understandable that Hendrick should miss you and wish you apprenticed nearer home.”
She came to an abrupt halt. ”I'm n.o.body's chattel! When will you and my father realize that? I'll not be moved about like a chess piece!”
He raised his hands placatingly. ”Calm down! This is getting out of control. You want to stay in Delft and Master Vermeer has every lawful right to keep you. There's the end of it. I've other places to visit after Delft and by the time I return to Amsterdam your father may well have forgotten all about his idea to switch you back there.”
Aletta thought that Ludolf had shown a keen insight into Hendrick's character. ”That's most likely,” she agreed.
Francesca made a weary gesture. ”I'm sure you're right.”
Aletta put her arm about her sister's shoulders and the three of them walked on together to Geetruyd's house.
Over dinner, which was served on silver dishes kept for special occasions, conversation flowed normally. Aletta asked Ludolf if he had seen Sybylla before leaving Amsterdam.
”No. I've not been to your home since my return from Antwerp. Your father came to see me about calling in at Delft and seeing Master Vermeer on his behalf.” He had already told Geetruyd about this during the first course of oysters.
Aletta did not want that subject brought up again, for her sister had become silent and very straight-backed as she had been before. Quickly she looked toward Geetruyd, who sat at the head of the table in a flattering gown of deep lilac-blue silk. ”Had you and Heer van Deventer ever met before today?”
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