Book 2

The book describes Mazarini’s service in the Papal armed forces and as the Pope’s diplomat. Being a protégé of Constable Colonna he receives the rank of captain and is sent to the town of Ancona with a secret mission to expose and neutralize a Spanish spy ring acting in the army. After many dangerous adventures he manages to fulfill this task but faces the wrath of the Spaniards who are formally the Pope’s allies. Through his ingenuity and resourcefulness he finds a way to allay the Vatican’s fears of the Spaniards, survives the Spanish threats, and even defeats them diplomatically.