“I am Cugel.”
“You may now pay over a deposit of fifty terces against charges.”
Cugel spoke stiffly: “I prefer to pay at the end of my visit, when I can examine the bill in detail.”
“Sir, this is our invariable rule. You would be astonished to learn of the scurrilous vagabonds who try every conceivable trick upon us.”
“Then I must go find my servant, who carries the money.”
Cugel departed the inn. Thinking that by chance he might come upon Master Sabbas, Cugel returned to the wharves.
The sun had set; Port Perdusz was bathed in wine-colored gloom. Activity had diminished somewhat, but drays still carried goods here and there among the warehouses.
Sab the Swindler was nowhere to be seen, but Cugel had already put him aside in favor of a new and more positive concept. He went to that warehouse where Yoder stored his victuals and stood waiting in the shadows.
From the warehouse came a dray driven not by Yoder but by a man with a ruff of ginger-colored hair and long bristling mustaches with waxed points. He was a person of style who wore a wide-brimmed hat with a tall green plume, double-toed boots and a mauve knee-length coat embroidered with yellow birds. Cugel removed his own hat, the most notable element of his costume, and tucked it into his waist-band.
As soon as the dray had moved a few yards along the wharf Cugel ran forward and accosted the driver. He spoke briskly: “Is this last load for the Avventura? If so, Captain Wiskich does not appreciate so much unnecessary delay.”
The driver spoke with unexpected spirit: “I am indeed loaded for the Avventura. As for delay, I know of none! These are choice viands and careful selection is of the essence.”
“True enough; no need to belabor the point. You have the invoice?”
“I do indeed! Captain Wiskich must pay to the last terce before I unload so much as an anchovy. Those are my strict instructions.”
Cugel held up his hand. “Be easy! All will go smoothly. Captain Wiskich is conducting business over here in the warehouse. Come; bring your invoice.”
Cugel led the way into the old gray warehouse, now dim with dusk, and signaled the driver into the office marked Ticket Agent.
The driver peered into the office. “Captain Wiskich? Why do you sit in the dark?”
Cugel threw his cloak over the driver’s head and tied him well with the wonderful extensible rope, then gagged him with his own kerchief.
Cugel took the invoice and the fine wide-brimmed hat. “I will be back shortly; in the meantime, enjoy your rest.”
Cugel drove the dray to the Avventura and drew up to a halt. He heard Captain Wiskich bawling to someone in the forecastle. Cugel shook his head regretfully. The risks were disproportionate to the gain; let Captain Wiskich wait.
Cugel continued along the wharf, and across the plaza to where Varmous worked among the wagons of his caravan.
Cugel pulled the driver’s wide-brimmed hat low over his face and hid the sword under his cloak. With the invoice in hand he sought out Varmous. “Sir, I have delivered your load of victual, and this is the invoice, now due and payable.”
Varmous, taking the invoice, read down the billing. “Three hundred and thirty terces? These are high-quality viands! My order was far more modest, and was quoted to me at two hundred terces!”
Cugel made a debonair gesture. “In that case, you need only pay two hundred terces,” he said grandly. “We are interested only in the satisfaction of our customers.”
Varmous glanced once more at the invoice. “It is a rare bargain! But why should I argue with you?” He handed Cugel a purse. “Count it, if you like, but I assure you that it contains the proper amount.”
“That is adequate assurance,” said Cugel. “I will leave the dray here and you may unload it at your convenience.” He bowed and departed.
Returning to the warehouse Cugel found the driver as he had left him. Cugel said: “Tzat!” to loosen the bonds and placed the wide-brimmed hat upon the driver’s head. “Do not stir for five minutes! I will be waiting just outside the door and if you stick out your head I will lop it off with my sword. Is that clear?”
“Quite clear,” muttered the driver.
“In that case, farewell.” Cugel departed and returned to the inn where he placed down a deposit and was assigned a chamber on the balcony.
Cugel dined upon bread and sausages, then strolled out to the front of the inn. His attention was attracted by an altercation near Varmous’ caravan. Looking more closely, Cugel found Varmous in angry confrontation with Captain Wiskich and Yoder. Varmous refused to surrender his victuals until Captain Wiskich paid him two hundred terces plus a handling charge of fifty terces. Captain Wiskich, in a rage, aimed a blow at Varmous, who stepped aside, then struck Captain Wiskich with such force that he tumbled over backwards. The crew of the Avventura was on hand and rushed forward, only to be met by Varmous’ caravan personnel carrying staves, and the seamen were soundly thrashed.
Captain Wiskich, with his crew, retired into the inn to plan new strategies, but instead they drank great quantities of wine and committed such nuisances that they were taken by the town constables and immured in an old fortress half-way up the hill, where they were sentenced to three days of confinement.
When Captain Wiskich and his crew were dragged away, Cugel thought long and carefully, then went out and once more conferred with Varmous.
“Earlier today, if you recall, I requested a place in your caravan.”
“Conditions have not changed,” said Varmous shortly. “Every place is taken.”
“Let us suppose,” said Cugel, “that you commanded another large and luxurious carriage, capable of carrying twelve in comfort — could you find enough custom to fill these places?”
“Without doubt! They now must wait for the next caravan and so will miss the Festival. But I leave in the morning and there would be no time to secure the supplies.”
“That too can be effected, if we are able to arrive at a compact.”
“What do you suggest?”
“I provide the carriage and the supplies. You recruit twelve more travelers and charge them premium prices. I pay nothing. We divide the net profits.”
Varmous pursed his lips. “I see nothing wrong with this. Where is your carriage?”
“Come; we shall get it now.”
