After dinner, François, Gilbert, and Blanca ran to Uncle Lazzi's house. Half of the villagers were already there. The guys squeezed closer to the table, at which sat the owner, Umberto Lazzi, and a stranger strikingly similar to him. He was short, but broad-shouldered and muscular, and over a linen shirt he wore an unusual-looking leather jacket. His swarthy smiling face was overgrown with a beard and was dotted with wrinkles, his eyes glinted slyly from under a cap of disheveled hair. A white scar ran across the right cheek, on which an earring dangling on the earlobe cast a glare.François and Blanca, like everyone else, stared in amazement at the strange stranger. None of them had seen anything like it before. Roberto did not seem to notice the surprised looks, cheerfully and calmly telling his story to those around him. Slowly and with humor, he told how he ran away from home as a boy, how in Genoa he became a cabin boy on a merchant ship bound for Marseille, and how over the year

The next morning, taking advantage of the non-working day, Francois agreed with the overseers and went into the forest to collect herbs for the treatment of a friend. Even on the Star of the Seas, he more than once had to help the ship's doctor and extract herbs for him in various ports. And now he quickly found everything he needed, and an hour later he was already giving don Rodrigo a healing decoction to drink. During the day he gave the Spaniard half a dozen different tinctures, and by night he was already much better. Using all his eloquence, Francois convinced the guards that the living Don Rodrigo is much more useful to Sufi Pasha than the dead one - after all, a ransom is already being taken for him. The Spaniard was allowed one day to spend in bed, and this finally helped him to his feet.The captives were very happy to learn that they now have their own apothecary. They often turned to François for medical help, and he made it a rule to go for herbs every Friday. The Arrais

The next morning, entering Nostrdam's room, François was surprised to find that he was sound asleep. The heroic organism of the doctor, which allowed him to work for wear and tear for several months, finally demanded a rest. François quietly closed the door and went for a walk. He walked along the city streets, inhaling the fresh sea air, purified by him and his friend from the stench of the plague. For the first time in years, he felt truly happy. The epidemic is defeated, he is no longer alone and, most importantly, as it seemed to him, he was able to overcome the sticky, shameful fear of death that had tormented him from the very day when the little puppy was floundering in the waters of the Seine.François returned home in excellent spirits at two o'clock in the afternoon. He heard voices in Nostrdam's room and, deciding not to interfere, went to his room and sat down with a book on a wide bench. But gradually he began to listen to the conversation behind the wall. The unknown int

A dispatch came from Paris: Henry's coronation was scheduled for July 26th. It was supposed to take place in Reims, the city where the French monarchs were traditionally crowned.At the end of June, a cavalcade left Aix, consisting of provincial dignitaries invited to the coronation, the retinue of Claude of Savoy, the count himself and, of course, Francois. We drove for a long time, resting in special inns intended for royal couriers. The road took almost a month, and the cavalcade arrived in Reims on July 23, on the eve of the arrival of the royal court. Comte de Tende, Francois and several of the largest dignitaries of Provence settled in the Palais du Tau - the archbishop's palace.It was immediately felt that the city was preparing for a great event. More than thirty years had passed since the previous coronation, and the townspeople were in joyful excitement, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the court. Smartly dressed residents walked along the streets, buildings were decorated w

On a cloudy October day in 1547, majordomo Luigi Alamanni entered the queen's chambers, where she, surrounded by ladies-in-waiting, was sitting at embroidery. This noble Italian, the most educated person, poet and philosopher, once participated in a conspiracy against the future Pope Clement the Seventh, and when the conspiracy was discovered, he fled to France and entered the service of the king. For the past three years, Senor Alamanni has acted as Catherine's majordomo, and she, seeing the Italian's devotion, asked him to be by her side all the time.“Your Majesty,” he announced with a bow, “the señor de Gondi has come. He asks to be accepted on an important matter.Catherine nodded, and a minute later the major-domo brought in a short, stout gentleman dressed in the Italian style. With a deep bow, he approached and said in Italian:“Your Majesty, my envoy has returned.The queen motioned for the ladies-in-waiting to come out and, concealing her impatience, turned to the Florentine