CHAPTER 101

CHAPTER 101

THE CARDINAL STOOD by the fireplace, and in his hands was the letter. Bewilderment crept over his face as his eyes skimmed over those nervous letters.

How was that possible?

How did that information come to the attention of a simple French friar?

This could never have happened!

He looked up, bleary-eyed, trying to grasp the full extent of it all and get his thoughts in order, analyzing the possible repercussions.

He lowered them again, this time contemplating the back. In an instant, his tense body relaxed, and a sense of relief swept through his soul as his eyes settled on the last few sentences:

"My spirit is broken and my soul is troubled. Never before have I come across something similar. I feel guilty hearing such a revelation from such a terrible creature. My heart conflicts with reason and my wish would be to forget everything. My reason, however, in the name of prudence, compelled me to reveal to you the terrible things I heard...

Due to the terror that these revelations inspire in me, I keep them a secret, communicating them only to you, Vicar of Christ on Earth, so that, with the help of God, your Holiness can better judge and, to all the things that are currently happening in the world, understand.

Your humble servant in the Lord. Friar Charles Varineo"

The Cardinal looked once more at the return address in the city of Padua, and then, as if ridding himself of something obscene and disgusting, he moved closer to the fireplace, quickly throwing the letter into the fire. Satisfaction bloomed on his face in the form of an evil smile, as he watched the flame of papers being devoured by the fire.