Les Pardaillan — Tome 05: Pardaillan Et Fausta

''Pardaillan et Fausta'' by Michel Zévaco is a historical novel written in the early 20th century. The fifth volume in the ''Les Pardaillan'' series, it follows the tumultuous story of Fausta, a woman caught in the murderous intrigues and power plays of 16th-century Rome, particularly surrounding the papacy of Sixte-Quint. The narrative reveals her fate as she awaits execution while also exploring her complex relationships, particularly with the knight Pardaillan, the only man she has ever loved. The opening portion introduces a dramatic and suspenseful scene set in Rome, where the death knell tolls for Fausta, who is imprisoned at the Château Saint-Ange. As she faces her imminent execution, a fierce confrontation occurs between two men, Cardinal Montalte and Hercule Sfondrato, who are embroiled in a deadly rivalry over their love for Fausta. The intensity heightens with Montalte's desperate attempt to save her, which ultimately leads to an unexpected twist involving her death—a death she orchestrates by poisoning herself. Just as it seems her story ends, the narrative pivots with the revelation of her survival, setting the stage for further intrigue involving power, love, and revenge as she embarks on a perilous journey towards Madrid with political implications that could alter the fate of France.