The Painting

The Painting

In a dimly lit interrogation room Fra Pandolf frustratingly pleads his case.

…

“I am telling the truth; I do not know anything about the Duchess’ disappearance! I do not understand why it is me you are interrogating, when it should be the Duke you are interrogating. I did nothing wrong, I merely painted her, there was nothing sexual or criminal about it, she kept her clothes on and I kept my distance, and I certainly had nothing to do with her disappearance”. Fra Pandolf yelled in frustration.

“But you had a special bond with her?” the interrogator asked.

“No I did not, I was just her painter, nothing was special about our bond, it was purely professional”.

“Then why did the Duke accuse you of stealing her from him and leading her into adultery?”.

“Because he is delusional and jealous and it was this hateful jealousy that led the Duchess into her disappearance I believe… During our sessions, we talked and she told me that he was unbearable to live with and constantly judging her, accusing her of adultery, and not appreciating anything she ever did; nothing was good enough. Therefore, she came to me. She thought that a nice painting of her in a good light with a warm smile and some pretty clothes would cheer the Duke up and maybe ease his tormented soul and jealousy. She wanted to show him that it was him she loved, no one else. But alas… this was not the case. The painting sparked a jealousy so hatred, so strong that he tracked me down and tried to kill me. He believed we used these painting sessions to fool around behind his back and paint crude paintings. He was blind with rage. In reality, the Duchess came to me to have her painting done, because it was I who painted the other paintings the Duke own. By a mere coincidence, after the first session, she discovered I was pleasant to talk to and this was a place where she could get all her frustrations out without judgement and ridicule. This is why the painting to a little longer than normal to have finished and it was probably because of this that the Duke grew so enormously jealous. I have painted paintings of his former Duchesses and this was by far the longest I have spent on a painting, but it is also the best one, and I doubled as a shrink at the same time, so I could not have done it quicker. I am just sorry that it caused such turmoil in the mind and heart of the Duke, which led to the disappearance of the kind and sweet Duchess. But I did not have relations with her and I did not have anything to do with her disappearance. Rather I believe the Duke killed her in a jealous fit”. Fra Pandolf said.

“What evidence do you have to support this?” the interrogator asked.

“Because she told me that was what he had done with his former Duchesses” fra Pandolf replied.

…

After the interrogation, Fra Pandolf and an unnamed girl are sitting in the living room of Fra Pandolf’s home.

“Did they buy it?” the girl asked.

“I believe so, I lied to them about the Duke killing his former Duchesses like you told me to, and I gave a good rendition of just how terrible the Duke is and how horrible he made your life” Fra Pandolf said.

“Good, let us just hope the Duke gets what he deserves and then we can live in peace” she said.

“And then I can continue on the other painting of you without getting interrupted” Fra Pandolf said sensually.