Summary

In Chapter 27, Crivano awakens in his hotel room to the sound of knocking at the door. He only meant to rest his eyes for a moment, but he fell asleep by mistake. He gets dressed, opens the door, and finds Anzolo, the proprietor of the White Eagle, standing there. Anzolo tells Crivano that Tristao is downstairs waiting for him. Anzolo seems uncomfortable. Crivano tells him that he will be downstairs soon, and they will eat supper in the parlor.

Crivano closes the door and collects his thoughts. He takes the wooden grille from the table and hides it in his trunk beneath a spring-loaded panel. He locks the truck and places the key around his neck with a leather string. He vaguely thinks of the plaguedoctor and dismisses the thought. He takes out a square of white linen and a ceramic jar from...