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It seerned I should make a new and spectacular beginning there； purchasing for myself the finest house available； and acquiring a bevy of apprentices to prepare my paints for me； and the walls of my own house which would eventually receive my best efforts after I had done some panels and canvases to once again learn my craft。
As for my identity I would be Marius de Romanus； a man of mystery
and incalculable wealth。 Simply put； I would bribe those I had to bribe to obtain the right to remain in Venice； and thereafter spend freely among those who came to know me in the smallest capacity； and give generously to my apprentices who would be recipients of the finest education I could obtain for them。
Understand please that in this time the cities of Florence and Venice were not part of one country。 Far from it。 Each was a country unto itself。 And so being in Venice I was quite removed from Botticelli； and would be subject to very important laws which the citizens of Venice were required to obey。
Now as to the matter of my appearance I intended to be careful in the extreme。 Imagine the effect upon a mortal heart were I to reveal myself in all my coldness； a blood drinker of some fifteen hundred years in age with purely white skin and flashing blue eyes。 So the
matter of emollients was no small thing。
Renting rooms in the city； I purchased from the perfume shops the very finest tinted salves I could find。 Then to my skin I applied these ointments； carefully inspecting the results in the finest mirrors which could be had。 I soon made a blending of salves which was most perfect for not only darkening my cold plexion； but for bringing back to visibility in it the finest little wrinkles or lines。
I myself had not known that these lines of human expression still
remained to me； and I was most happy to discover them； and I rather liked the image that I presented to the glass。 As for the perfume； it was pleasing； and I realized that once settled in my own house； I could have the proper salves made for me arid have them always on hand。
It took some months to plete my entire plan。
And this was largely because I had fallen in love with one particular palazzo； a house of great beauty； its facade covered in glistering marble tiles； its arches in the Moorish style； and its immense rooms more luxurious than anything I had ever beheld in all my nights； and even my long ago days。 The lofty ceilings amazed me。 We had known nothing like them in old Rome； at least not in a private house。 And on top of the immense roof was a carefully arranged roof garden from which one could view the sea。
Once the ink was dry upon the parchment； I set out to purchase for myself the finest furnishings imaginable…coffered beds； desks； chairs； tables； all the usual appointments including gold…threaded draperies for every window…and I set to the task of managing all this a clever and genial old man named Vincenzo； a creature of extremely solid health； whom I had bought almost as if he were a slave from a family who had no more use for him and kept him about in shameful neglect because he had once educated their sons。
I saw in Vincenzo just the sort of governor I would need for all the apprentices I meant to buy from their Masters； boys who would bring some skill already learnt to the tasks they had to do for me。 I was also pleased with the fact that the man was already old which meant I did not have to be tormented by the spectacle of youth dying in him。 Rather I could pride myself； perhaps foolishly； on visiting upon him a rather splendid old age。
How did I find the creature？ I went about reading minds to discover what I wanted。
I was now more powerful than ever； I could find the Evil Doer effortlessly。 I could hear the secret thoughts of those who sought to cheat me or those who loved the mere sight of me。 And the latter was a dangerous thing。
Why dangerous； you might ask？ The answer is that I was now more than ever susceptible to love； and when seen with loving eyes I knew it and I slowed my pace。
What a strange mood would descend upon me while walking in the arcade along San Marco if someone should be looking at me admiringly。
I would turn about； taking my time； and double back perhaps； and only reluctantly move away； rather like a bird in some northern clime enjoying the warmth of the sun on its wings。
Meantime； with gold in his hands； Vincenzo was sent to buy fine clothes for himself。 I would make a gentleman of him； in so far as the sumptuary laws allowed。
And seated at my new desk in a spacious bedchamber floored in marble with windows open to the winds off the canal； I wrote out lists of those additional luxuries which I desired。
I wanted a lavish old Roman…style bath built for me in this bedchamber； so that I could enjoy the warm water whenever I wished。 I wanted shelves for my books； and a finer chair for this desk。 Of course there should be another library。 What was a house to me if it did not possess a library？ I wanted the finest clothing； the fashionable hats and leather shoes。
I drew pictures to guide those who would carry out my designs。
These were heady times。 I was a part of life once more and my heart was beating to a human pace。
Hailing a gondola at the quais； I traveled the canals for hours looking
up at the spectacular facades which made up the waterways of Venice。 I listened to the voices everywhere。 I lay back sometimes on my elbow and gazed up at the stars。
At various goldsmith shops and painters' workshops I chose my first gathering of apprentices； taking every opportunity to select the brilliant ones who were for various reasons among the wronged； and neglected； and abused。 They would show me profound loyalty and untapped knowledge； and I sent them off to their new home with gold coins in their hands。
Of course I procured clever assistants because those were necessary； but I knew I would be very successful with the poorlings。 Force was riot required。
Meantime； it was my wish that my boys should be educated for the university…not a customary thing with a painter's apprentice…so I chose tutors for them and arranged for these men to e to my house in the daylight hours to perform instruction as required。
The boys would learn Latin； Greek； philosophy； the newfound and much valued 〃classics；〃 some mathematics and whatever they needed to proceed in life。 If they excelled in painting and they chose it； they could of course forget the university and follow the painter's path。
Finally I had a houseful of healthy and noisy activity。 There were cooks in the kitchen； and musicians teaching my boys to sing and play the lute。 There were dancing instructors and there were fencing matches over the marble floors of the great salons。
But I did not open my doors to the populace as I had done in long ago Rome。
I was too wary to do such a thing in Venice； too unsure of my ruse； too uncertain of what questions my mad painting might arouse。
No； I need only have my young male assistants； I fancied； both to keep me pany and to help me； for there was much to be done preparing the walls for my frescoes and covering my panels and
canvases with the proper varnishes for my work。
As it turned out； there was not much for anyone to do for some weeks； for during that period I wandered the local workshops and studied the painters of Venice as I had studied the painters of Florence not long before。
There was no doubt in my mind； after this studious examination； that I could mimic mortql work to some extent； but I could not hope to surpass it。 And I feared what I would acplish。 And I resolved to keep my house closed to all but the boys and their instructors as arranged。
Taking to my bedroom study； I began a journal of my thoughts； the first I had ever kept since the nights in old Rome。
I wrote of the forts I enjoyed。 And I chastised myself with more clarity than I did in my mind。
〃You have bee a fool for the love of mortals；〃 I wrote；
far more than you ever did in the ancient nights。 For you know you have chosen these boys so that you might instruct them