The Coffee Trader

“Things stand quite well,” Miguel told her. “As soon as you have transferred the money to my account, dear woman, I’ll be able to pay my East Indian merchant for the coffee. From that time on, we have to make certain we’ve contacted our agents and orchestrated the plan perfectly before the goods arrive. I estimate two months.”

“Two months,” she repeated dreamily. “Two months, and we’ll have accomplished all you say? You speak of it as though you anticipated trout for your di

“Well, I like trout.” He looked at her, her face aglow in the torchlight, dim enough to hide the imperfections of age.

They stopped to look at a sloppily erected stage where the players performed some adventures of the Sea Beggars, maritime rebels who fought off the Spanish tyrants to win the United Provinces their freedom. Miguel had never bothered to learn the names of the celebrated heroes or the pivotal battles, but Geertruid became absorbed instantly. They watched for a quarter hour, and Geertruid clapped and cheered with the crowd, losing herself in girlish glee as the players spoke of the miraculous storm that saved the town of Leiden from the Spanish. Then she decided she’d seen enough and began to walk again.

“I must still coordinate with our agents for the exchanges,” he continued, after a moment.

“And do you have your agents selected?”

Miguel nodded. “I have contacts at this very moment in Marseilles, Hamburg, Vie

“Only a few problems,” Geertruid said thoughtfully. “That’s wonderful. It is utterly wonderful. I should have thought there might be countless problems, but you have managed things so handsomely. It is a great comfort to me.”

Miguel smiled at her. He looked at her lips, wondering if he saw a vaguely ironic smirk. “Nevertheless, you might wish to hear the nature of those problems.”

“I have every confidence in you, but if you wish to speak of problems, I’ll certainly listen.”

Miguel cleared his throat. “I am concerned about my ability to establish agents in the Iberian exchanges: Lisbon, Madrid, and perhaps Oporto. I have not continued to trade there, and many of my former contacts there have fled to places of safety. Indeed, the contacts I have in Marseilles, Hamburg, and Antwerp are all refugees as I am-men I knew in Lisbon.”

“Can’t you make new contacts? You’re an amicable enough fellow.”

“I’m still exploring that possibility, but doing so is difficult. When dealing with those nations, a man such as myself must conceal his true name and not let it be known that he is of the Hebrew faith. To reveal that would invite rejection, for any man, whether a Secret Jew or no, would fear to do business with a known Jew. Should the Inquisition learn of his activities, it wouldn’t hesitate to punish him for suspicion of being a Judaizer.”

“That sounds like a rotten business.”

“The Inquisition funds itself by confiscating the property of those they convict. That makes merchants especially attractive to evil Inquisitors.”

“Can we proceed without those exchanges? After all, how many do we need?”

“We might perhaps fare well without Oporto, and even Lisbon, though I should hate to risk it. We must, however, have Madrid. Coffee has gained some small favor in the Spanish court, which acquires its fruit through the Madrid bourse. If we lose Madrid, the project fails.”

“Whatever shall we do?” Her voice was high and youthful, as though she tested Miguel to learn the depth of his concern.

“There are always maneuvers and schemes in the world of trade. It is all thrust and parry, and it’s not such an impossible thing to perform a little alchemy and make leaden problems turn to golden opportunities.”

“I know you know your business, so I’ll not worry unless you tell me to worry.”

Miguel began to turn left upon the path, but Geertruid pulled him right. She had some destination in mind but offered no more hint than the slightest of smirks. “How soon do you think you can have the money transferred to my account?” he asked her.

“Should we not wait? If this situation with Madrid does not resolve itself, and we have purchased the goods, shall we not be the losers for it?”

“It ca

They had now arrived at a wooden house, far more handsomely put together than most. Geertruid led him inside to a well-lit space decorated with sturdy wooden furniture. Drunken Dutchmen, perhaps a dozen of them, staggered about, and almost as many pretty girls in close-fitting dresses served tankards and whispered into ears. Geertruid had taken him to a brothel.

“What do we here?” he asked her.

“Oh, I thought you a little lonely, and I have heard such tales about a lass at this place-they made me quite blush-and I wanted you to sample the goods for yourself.”

“I thought,” he said, with a mockingly stern voice, “that we were to spend the evening together, discussing our business concerns.”

“You may pretend you are with me if you like,” she told him. “But as to business, I think we have concluded our talk.”

An eager-looking woman now appeared at Miguel’s side and took his other arm. She was small in height, and slightly built, but with a charmingly round face and full lips. “This must be the gentleman you spoke of,” she said to Geertruid. “He is a fine one indeed.”

“Senhor, this charming creature is called Agatha, and I hope you will treat her as kindly as I would want to be treated myself.”

Miguel laughed. “If only I knew how kind that was.”

Geertruid tossed her head, a sort of shrug.

“I think we should conclude our conversation first, before I take your generous gift.” He smiled at the girl so she would not feel unappreciated.

“You are a mighty man to keep your mind upon business with two beauties on your arm,” Agatha observed.

“You need only tell me when I can expect the money to be transferred, and we may forget the matter for tonight.”

“Very well.” Geertruid sighed. “I see you are not to be put off. All the more lucky for our friend Agatha, who they say likes a determined fellow. I can transfer the money before the end of the week if need be.”

Miguel had been sneaking a gaze at Agatha’s lively brown eyes, but he turned quickly to Geertruid. “So soon? You already have it?”

Geertruid pressed her lips together in a smile. “Surely you don’t think my words have been all wind. You asked me to raise the money, and I have done so.”

“If you have raised it, why did you not tell me? I should think after securing that kind of capital-no easy trick-would you not feel more celebratory?”

“Indeed I do. Are we not celebrating here tonight?”

Miguel had been in trade long enough to know when someone lied to him, and badly too. He held himself absolutely still, afraid to move until he thought this thing through. Why would Geertruid lie? Two reasons: she did not truly have the money, or she did have the money, but its source was not what she had earlier said.

Miguel had not realized he had been quiet for so long until he saw both women staring at him. “You can transfer this week?”

“That’s what I say. Why have you turned so dour? You have your money and you have a woman. What more could any man desire?”

“Not a thing,” he said, breaking free of their hold and placing a hand on both of their soft rumps. It was a freedom he would not have normally taken with Geertruid, but she had taken one with him, so why not return the favor? As for her lie, he would think no more of it tonight. Geertruid had her reasons, and she had her secrets. Miguel was content to live with them.

“I think the senhor would rather you than me,” Agatha said to Geertruid.