
In the gilded halls of an exotic palace, Don Paëz finds himself drawn into a world where Eastern splendor meets European elegance. The princess, a captivating presence with a voice like a child's song, leads him through rooms dripping with marble statues, gold cups, and fragrant gardens. The atmosphere is intoxicating—lush citrus trees, fluttering doves, and the soft murmur of a lake outside create a dreamlike backdrop. As he steps into a private boudoir, the scent of flowers and the glow of lanterns heighten the sense that something beyond mere luxury awaits.
There, the princess confronts Don Paëz with a haunting question about love, challenging his hardened ambition. Her siren‑like words stir feelings he thought long buried, hinting at a tangled dance of desire and duty. The narrative weaves romance, intrigue, and the clash of cultures, inviting listeners to follow Don Paëz as he navigates the delicate line between power and the heart. The first act sets a tone of opulent mystery, promising a tale where personal yearning collides with grand designs.
Language
fr
Duration
~2 hours (168K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images available at The Internet Archive)
Release date
2015-02-16
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1829–1871
Best remembered as the creator of Rocambole, this hugely productive French novelist helped shape the fast-paced, cliffhanger-filled style of popular serial fiction. In just a couple of decades, he turned out dozens of volumes that kept nineteenth-century readers eagerly waiting for the next installment.
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