The Rose of Provence Read Online Free PDF

comfortable leather armchairs, offering Michel a
seat.
    “ In what circumstances were the corpses found?”
    “ They were found in the morning, lying in their beds. Just as
if they were sleeping.”
    “ All of them in the same way?”
    “ As far as I know, yes.”
    “ Who found them?”
    “ The valet. He went to check why they hadn't arrived for work,
because they have never indulged in such negligence
before.”
    “ Did he notice anything strange?”
    “ I don’t know what you’re thinking about, but he did not
report such things to me.”
    “ Did illness precede the ladies’ death? Did you notice some
kind of physical or behavioral symptoms on them?”
    “ As far as I know, they weren’t attacked by a disease, but it
would be useful to ask the other servants about this as well.
Obviously, you understand that I don’t follow every step of my
servants with close attention.”
    “ Of course sir. I’ll ask the others,” nodded Michel as if he
finished, but then, he changed his mind. “Just one more question:
we found two tiny wounds, the size of a pinprick, on all the
corpses. Maybe it’s a spider bite. Did you find, by any chance,
large spiders on the estate?”
    “ So far, we haven’t, but these animals live a relatively
recluse lifestyle. They hunt at night and withdraw into the thick
bushes during the day. But if we catch one, I promise, I’ll send it
to you in a jar.”
    “ Thank you. I will not hold you up any longer
then.”
    “ Have a nice day, and if you meet the rector, please, convey
my greetings to him!”
    Michel turned around and left, but he heard that the earl had
not closed the library’s door behind him. An unpleasant feeling
seized him while he was receding down the corridor: as if an icily
glowing pair of eyes sank into his back.

Chapter 6
    Red Rose of Arles
    Arles, Provence – 1528 summer

    Michel was ambling towards home morosely and empty-handed.
Light was not shed on the mystery of the strange wounds and
bloodless bodies. He interrogated the staff in vain, but he felt
that there is something wrong with the d’Angerville castle. Before
he set out from Montpellier to visit the earl, he asked around, but
with little result. The only certain thing was that he had moved
here two years ago, but nobody knew where he came from. There were
corresponding opinions about the fact that the earl is a fantastic
talker, has appealing manners, but it also turned out that
regarding his own self, he is rather reticent and does not like
speaking about himself. Michel had to admit that it was nonsense to
expect more of this visit.
    Arriving in Arles, he decided not to cook any longer under
the steaming hot midday sun, and his stomach gave signals
increasingly pretentiously too. Through the narrow streets, he led
his horse towards the main square of the town. He knew an inn
there, where he always had a good meal in return for a modest
payment. The Ancient Olive Tree was waiting for guests with gates
wide open, and it would have been hard to resist the heavenly
smells meandering on the street. Michel, of course, did not even
think about protesting against the appetizing dishes; while getting
off his horse, he was already mentally tasting the roasted rabbit
bathing in paprika sauce. However, when he tied the bridle to the
wooden fence, an urging feeling rushed through his body, which
forced him to glance up. The sight made such an impact on him that
the rest of his senses immediately failed. His hand stopped in the
air, the noise of the main square and the nearby alleys did not
reach his ears, he did not smell the magnificent fragrances leaking
from the inn, and he forgot the promise of the roast’s flavor as
well.
    A young girl was ambling along the square. The alabaster
color of her angelic face was highlighted by bronze-red cascade of
hair, emerald-green eyes, framed by long eyelashes, glittering
under her nicely curved eyebrows and a bleak smile was playing
around her beautiful lips. Her slender