Episode Seven Château Pooché "I am Alexander the Great," to which the philosopher said, "And I am Diogenes the Dog." E. Cobham Brewer Peering through a hedge located on the impressive property owned by Lexi's clients, the Scorpio Sisters, Maddie wondered if the pair were actually unwitting accomplices in Juan Carlos' kidnapping of Olivia. The ride to Chien had been conducted in a black sedan of French make - a Panhard. "I bought these wheels back when I worshipped the god Pan," JC had confided to his hostage as they drove. "It's the perfect car for me - Pan Hard, get it?" he cackled. "Do you get it?" "Yes, I get it...quite often, thank you," Maddie jabbed back. "Very funny - and guess what I named her? It's hilarious - La Pimpernelle! Don't ya love it?" "No doubt the Baroness Orczy is spinning in her grave, poor woman," Maddie smiled unconvincingly. Her thoughts then turned to a coach truly worthy of legend - a carriage that Olivia had discovered built by the family Ruggieri; 16th century alchemists with whom the Peyton girl was very involved. Maddie grinned as she remembered how excited Miss O had been on the day she found the story and the ensuing email that had promptly arrived at the Hague: "Accented by Renaissance quarterings, the coach was made of sturdy ash and had been originally crafted in the Paris workshop of the master woodcarver, Gepetto Ruggieri. The latter had rode the fortunate wave of prosperity that had led his kin to France, in the service of the daughter of Florence's wise Duke of Urbino, Catherine de Médicis." "Gepetto's busy factory was held in high esteem by those nobles always in need of elegant furnishings. His business proved a profitable subsidiary to his famed cousin's highly regarded University of the Occult Sciences, providing relaxation and distraction from the rigorous studies insisted upon by the headmaster, Ruggiero el Vecchio." "An assemblage of apprentice adepts, including Cardan, Michel de Nostredame and Cornelius Agrippa had been allowed to polish and fit the Grey Ghost, although without first inciting the displeasure of the humorless Nostradame of Provence. Since Gepetto could turn words with his tongue as skillfully as he could wood with his lathe, much was the merriment enjoyed by his students when he quipped: If carpentry was good enough for the Nazarene, then it is good enough for a Provençal denizen!" "At that moment, unbeknownst to most historians of French history, the offended soothsayer-in-training inwardly resolved to covertly pledge his allegiance to Catherine's many enemies, while stealing the secrets of the Ruggieri for himself, and thus, by helping to destroy the queen's family as well as line his own pockets, hopefully deprive his Florentine competition of their patroness and power."    Text Copyright © 1999 - 2005 cybersybils.com All rights reserved.