Before the reader is the third novel of the cycle dedicated to the complete vicissitudes of the fate of Chevalier de Pardallian. Sixteen years later, the Chevalier reappears in Paris. He is lonely, his heart has died, for Loise de Montmorency, barely having time to become his wife, dies from a blow with a poisoned dagger. Loisa's killer is still alive - this is our old acquaintance Morever. Revenge - that's why the tireless Pardalyan comes to the capital. However, Morever is now so close to Guise that they both have to fight. Fortunately, the young Duke Karl of Angouleme, the son of the late King Charles IX, comes to the aid of the Chevalier... The young man, a reckless and skillful fencer, is devoted to Chevalier, and together they work real miracles. But their I enemies are not inactive either... Against our heroes is the mysterious and omnipotent Faust, a beautiful and cold princess from the famous Italian clan Borgia, secretly elected by the Roman cardinals as papess - a rival of Pope Sixtus V.