Pope’s authority would represent an even greater threat to him.’
‘That is true. However, the situation would be reversed if the union took place under his authority. Philip plans to name one of his sons Grand-Master of the newly constituted order.’
‘The Pope will never agree to it.’
‘The question is whether he will be in a position to refuse,’ the prior clarified.
‘And so we return to the problem of preventing the election of a pope favourable to Philip,’ murmured Leone.
‘Indeed. But do we have the right to influence the history of Christendom? The question plagues me.’
‘Do we have the choice?’ the Knight corrected gently.
‘I am afraid the coming years will provide us with little room for manoeuvre. Therefore, no, we do not have the choice.’
The prior became engrossed in the study of a tuft of wild grass that had pushed its roots between two large blocks of stone. He murmured softly:
‘The sheer tenacity of life. What a supreme miracle.’
He continued in a firmer voice:
‘How should I put this? A fortuitous and unwitting intermediary will … assist us against his will.’
The prior cleared his throat. Leone looked enquiringly at Arnaud de Viancourt, sensing that what he was about to say vexed him. He was not mistaken.
‘Good God, even his name is … difficult for me to pronounce.’ He sighed before confessing, ‘This intermediary is none other than Giotto Capella, one of the best-known Lombardy moneylenders of the Place de Paris.’
Leone grew faint and his eyes closed. He tried to protest but Viancourt interrupted:
‘No. There is nothing you can say that I do not already know. I also know that time cannot heal all wounds. I spent dayssearching for another solution, in vain. Capella will never escape his tainted past. It is our trump card.’
Leone propped himself against the wall of broad, rough-hewn stones. He was overwhelmed by his emotions and struggling with his hatred. In truth he had been fighting it for so long now it had become like an unwanted companion he had learnt over the years to silence and control. And yet he knew if he freed himself, if he rid his soul of the loathing he felt for Capella, he would be one step closer to the Light. In a faltering voice he said:
‘Blackmail? What if Capella is a reformed man, what if he simply acted out of cowardice …? One needs to have experienced terrible fear in order to forgive a coward. I was so young then, but now …’
Arnaud de Viancourt replied in a despondent voice:
‘Brother, what purity of soul you possess. Many men would have been incapable …’ He stopped himself, deeming it unacceptable to add to the pain Leone was clearly already suffering. ‘Why should Capella help us in return for nothing when we have so little that interests him, and the King so much? I doubt it and it grieves me. Do men change unless they are compelled to? You may judge for yourself, brother. I know you to be a formidable judge of men’s souls. You will soon perceive how much he has changed, or simply how willing he is to oblige. I hope for our sake – and for his too – that you will deem the letter we have prepared for him superfluous. I sincerely hope you find the solace of forgiveness – forgetting is human, forgiving is divine. If such is the case, you may destroy the missive. Otherwise … I regret inflicting this ordeal on you but you must leave for France straight away. I have prepared letters of introduction as well as a leave of absence 12 of unspecified duration. You will stay in our commanderies as and when required. You will find all the comfortand spiritual succour you need there. Giotto Capella should enable you to come within reach of our most redoubtable enemy, Guillaume de Nogaret. If we are right and Nogaret is already looking for a replacement pope, he will need money, a great deal of money. We suspect that the French cardinals are among the candidates of the King’s Counsellor. They are licentious
‘That is true. However, the situation would be reversed if the union took place under his authority. Philip plans to name one of his sons Grand-Master of the newly constituted order.’
‘The Pope will never agree to it.’
‘The question is whether he will be in a position to refuse,’ the prior clarified.
‘And so we return to the problem of preventing the election of a pope favourable to Philip,’ murmured Leone.
‘Indeed. But do we have the right to influence the history of Christendom? The question plagues me.’
‘Do we have the choice?’ the Knight corrected gently.
‘I am afraid the coming years will provide us with little room for manoeuvre. Therefore, no, we do not have the choice.’
The prior became engrossed in the study of a tuft of wild grass that had pushed its roots between two large blocks of stone. He murmured softly:
‘The sheer tenacity of life. What a supreme miracle.’
He continued in a firmer voice:
‘How should I put this? A fortuitous and unwitting intermediary will … assist us against his will.’
The prior cleared his throat. Leone looked enquiringly at Arnaud de Viancourt, sensing that what he was about to say vexed him. He was not mistaken.
‘Good God, even his name is … difficult for me to pronounce.’ He sighed before confessing, ‘This intermediary is none other than Giotto Capella, one of the best-known Lombardy moneylenders of the Place de Paris.’
Leone grew faint and his eyes closed. He tried to protest but Viancourt interrupted:
‘No. There is nothing you can say that I do not already know. I also know that time cannot heal all wounds. I spent dayssearching for another solution, in vain. Capella will never escape his tainted past. It is our trump card.’
Leone propped himself against the wall of broad, rough-hewn stones. He was overwhelmed by his emotions and struggling with his hatred. In truth he had been fighting it for so long now it had become like an unwanted companion he had learnt over the years to silence and control. And yet he knew if he freed himself, if he rid his soul of the loathing he felt for Capella, he would be one step closer to the Light. In a faltering voice he said:
‘Blackmail? What if Capella is a reformed man, what if he simply acted out of cowardice …? One needs to have experienced terrible fear in order to forgive a coward. I was so young then, but now …’
Arnaud de Viancourt replied in a despondent voice:
‘Brother, what purity of soul you possess. Many men would have been incapable …’ He stopped himself, deeming it unacceptable to add to the pain Leone was clearly already suffering. ‘Why should Capella help us in return for nothing when we have so little that interests him, and the King so much? I doubt it and it grieves me. Do men change unless they are compelled to? You may judge for yourself, brother. I know you to be a formidable judge of men’s souls. You will soon perceive how much he has changed, or simply how willing he is to oblige. I hope for our sake – and for his too – that you will deem the letter we have prepared for him superfluous. I sincerely hope you find the solace of forgiveness – forgetting is human, forgiving is divine. If such is the case, you may destroy the missive. Otherwise … I regret inflicting this ordeal on you but you must leave for France straight away. I have prepared letters of introduction as well as a leave of absence 12 of unspecified duration. You will stay in our commanderies as and when required. You will find all the comfortand spiritual succour you need there. Giotto Capella should enable you to come within reach of our most redoubtable enemy, Guillaume de Nogaret. If we are right and Nogaret is already looking for a replacement pope, he will need money, a great deal of money. We suspect that the French cardinals are among the candidates of the King’s Counsellor. They are licentious
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