Leonardo and the Death Machine. Robert J. Harris

said Lucrezia. She waved the girl away and slammed the door shut.

      Sandro grabbed Leonardo by the shoulder and propelled him towards the window.

      “Quick!” he ordered. “Get in the chest!”

       7 A WELL-BUILT PRISON

      Sandro flipped open the catch and threw up the lid. “Come on, get in!” he said, pointing to the empty interior of the chest.

      “Are you crazy?” Leonardo exclaimed. “I’m not getting in there!”

      “But you have to,” Sandro insisted, his eyes feverish with panic. “If Lorenzo finds you here, he’ll know exactly what’s going on.”

      “He’s right,” Lucrezia agreed. “Lorenzo will see the paint is fresh and wonder why Signor Botticelli has stopped. He will spot the bandage, and even worse, he will see that your hands, Leonardo, are covered with paint.”