Malta April 1854
The house known as Dar-il-Sliem – "House of Tranquillity" – stood a bare hundred yards from the Grand Harbour. It overlooked the massed shipping of the Royal Navy and the associated merchant ships and transports, whose reflected lights danced across the dark water. Red shutters covered a score of windows that punctuated the baroque façade, with squat columns flanking the round-headed door.
"Gerolamo Cassar was the architect," Riley spoke quietly, "the same man who designed the Grand Master"s palace."
"Oh?" Jack had no interest in the architect.
"He laid the ground plan for Valetta as well," Riley said. "Europe"s first ever planned city. He was a genius of course."
"Was he indeed?" Jack said. "I am delighted to see you did not waste your time in the Knight"s old archiv
