
CHAPTER I MY CLAIM TO BE HEARD FOR TRUTH'S SAKE
CHAPTER II THE BRUISINGS OF A FRIEND
CHAPTER III FIRE AND SACK
CHAPTER IV BABETTE
CHAPTER V PARIS IN "EIGHTY-THREE"
CHAPTER VI THE MUSE IN DRAGGLED SKIRTS
CHAPTER VII THE SHREWDEST BRAIN IN FRANCE
CHAPTER VIII THE DOORS OF THE LOUVRE ONLY OPEN INWARDS
CHAPTER IX HOW I MET MADEMOISELLE THE SECOND TIME
CHAPTER X PLESSIS-LES-TOURS
A weary courtier, once thrust into the dangerous role of a king’s envoy, now finds himself torn between the silence imposed by powerful historians and the desperate need to set the record straight. He recounts a fateful diplomatic mission that never reached the annals of history, its details deemed risky enough to be erased for the sake of royal reputation. The narrative opens in the spring of 1483, amid the restless courts of France and Navarre, where personal ambition, misfortune, and a hint of divine mercy intertwine.
Beyond politics, the story is a deeply personal reckoning. Having lost both parents and shouldered the burden of his own modest standing, the narrator wrestles with the threat of scandal that could tarnish his name and endanger his children’s future. As he confronts the “evil tongues” that seek to rewrite his past, listeners are invited into a vivid portrait of late‑medieval intrigue, honor, and the quiet courage required to speak the truth.
Language
en
Duration
~7 hours (457K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Al Haines
Release date
Jun 26, 2018
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
1857–1935
Best known for atmospheric historical fiction, this Irish novelist set many of his stories in France and Spain, blending romance, politics, and occasional touches of the supernatural. His work has a rich late-Victorian feel, with plots driven by intrigue, loyalty, and belief.
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