Henry Bedford-Jones

The Reward of Nostradamus

Warsaw 2022

Contents

The Reward of Nostradamus

The Reward of Nostradamus

Catherine de Medici coveted the Sphinx Emerald. And when the King gave it as a reward to his physician, Dr. Nôtredame rode in dire peril of his life.

THE Comte de Vergy, Royal Equerry, intimate friend of the King, and easily the most influential noble at court, was a handsome, swaggering, arrogant fellow-not half clever, but apt at worming himself forward. One of his methods was to pay much quiet attention to the little Italian princess Catherine de Medici, who would be Queen of France one of these days.

Catherine was extremely plain, but was clever enough to invent the sidesaddle in order to display her one beauty, a well-formed leg. She was highly superstitious, like any girl of nineteen; and having few friends at court, she welcomed the courtesies of Vergy, and ultimately made him her confidant in the matter of the Sphinx emerald.

Catherine and her husband the Dauphin were on hand because the King was believed dying. This was in the summer of 1538. King François had come to Orléans because of its healthy air, and occupied the huge Hôtel Groslot.

Incurably ill, outworn by his vices, François was doomed and accounted dying; but while he lived, he was very much King of France.

On an afternoon, Catherine sat in her apartment, sewing, her attendant ladies at a little distance, while Vergy sat with her, fingering a lute as he talked. Demure as a mouse, careful to avoid scandal, keeping herself well out of the court picture, Catherine saw everything that went on. Despised as an Italian by the incredibly haughty French nobles, she was ever on the defensive, and was most careful to shun their jealousy and envy.

“And you, M. de Vergy, do you think the King will die?” she was asking.

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