Men he detested, yes indeedy. One such comes to mind most particularly. Let’s poke our noses into an apartment on the Plaza de Catalunya, just down from the impressively upright cathedral, a stof oddments is the response to an inner deficit, and a way to keep disappointment with life at bay.

         What can I deduce from this accumulation? The pieces are carefully arranged, not on the basis of type, ceramics, silver, etc., but by shape, color, pattern, in pleasing 

-n-span is not healthy. When one is so insistent on an orderly surround, the inner life is in turmoil, it is a coping mechanism. He cannot be at ease here, he’s always fluffing a pillow or shaking out a rug. He always finds something amiss.

         A dinner is just underway in the next room. This personage, he is clearly one to be reckoned with, has access hurchman have bonded.

*

         The swindler (actually, the son of a swindler) is a transplanted Burgundian, very sure of his superiority. Hcy, the Archbishop of Haute-Navarre), canon of the cathedral overwhelming the plaza, radiates a serenity that the other envies with all his heart.

         Gustavseeded itself in both their brains and put down roots, while good sense, a less aggressive growth, has been overarched by showier vernation which has thrived due to the liberal application of absinthe. (1)

         D’Ollotns of his comrade, it is because he hopes that letters of introduction from one on a first-name basis with French elite will one day open doors. Zagi has reason to think his companion has pull, robust self-promotion aside. The man has magnificent miniatures in his possession that are possibly what they are proclaimed to be, the residue of a grand lineage. He’s not willing to rule out that the man has not-so-distant cousins well placed Seine-side.

         If d’Ollot wants so badly to conquer Parisian high society, why doesn’t he sell off his choicer holdinhiseams and acted on them.

         This house sits in the best street in the prosperous upper town. D’Ollot ought to fit in here, cheek by jothe common court, handling civil work and tax cases, and prosecuting debt. The middle-clafooting, their names unblemished.

         Smaller possessions seized for monies owed are sold after a week if the debtor cannot cover his liahe caught short better-offs thank him for salvaging their reputations, and despise him for taking easy advantage of their reversals of fortune.

         Tax debt is the worst. People are put in jail for it. Real estate is taxed, and also plate and furniture, everre that d’Ollot is up on who owns what. When disaster strikes a household, he is the first to lend a helping hand, holding collateral at a smart discount, knowing that many will not be able to pull themselves out of a hole. (2)

         With a house full of marvels, his own tax burden must be substantial. Surprisingly (or maybe not so suonghold is kept locked. His other rooms are nothing beyond well-to-do ease. There may be rumors of opulence, but there are no witnesses to it. He pays his taxes promptly. No Sergeant demanding to take an inventory of disposables will ever come banging on his door.

*

         It started as a game of What if? Two friends had egged each other on. D’Ollot has the solid business senss, accrge of bookkeeping, cover his tracks, his old man’s equal at long last.

         Zagi will handle the vetting of a miracle, directing a gentle interrogation of the principals. Two boys,plish miraculous recoveries themselves. The mind works in mysterious ways; add ardent faith to child-like thinking and anything can happen.

         At that point the flood of worshipers eager to trammel the sacred site will not be

discouraged by an o name, he doodles constantly, and each nom de plume is more flamboyant than the last.

*

         It's fun, noodling around here, eh? But it ain't making headway plot-wise. Follow me. In the next room, tdavarre.

         Zagi, a free spirit at heart, would have chosen another career for himself, but was slated for the chirch frthe highly unsuitable famale, for whom, Zagi affirms, he has a sincere regard.

         I’ve got one more thing to say before we crash this tête-à-tête. Look, the to-do that upset the king so teray, it is called, I judge him capable of anything.

         D’Ollot made light of his outburst, but not before he’d observed that others on the council seemed fa condemning impossible extravagance and making recommendations.

         The king’s reply had been, We trust in the mercy of the Lord to see us through. This platitude was Jakome’s answer to any challenging situation, but on this occasion the rote refrain, after a sincere plea for reform, was too much to bear.

         D’Ollot had snappend-set, vowing henceforth to adhere to his father’s own oft-expressed credo: God helps those who help themselves.

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