1 Then the pope and Caesar Borgia invited the two cardinals to dinner.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContextHighlight In Chapter 18. The Treasure. 2 They were ambitious, and Caesar Borgia soon found purchasers for their appointments.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContextHighlight In Chapter 18. The Treasure. 3 Caesar gave way before such cogent reasoning, and the cardinals were consequently invited to dinner.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContextHighlight In Chapter 18. The Treasure. 4 Then Caesar and the pope hastened to lay hands on the heritage, under presence of seeking for the papers of the dead man.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContextHighlight In Chapter 18. The Treasure. 5 'The great wars of Romagna had ended; Caesar Borgia, who had completed his conquest, had need of money to purchase all Italy.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContextHighlight In Chapter 18. The Treasure. 6 Then there was the ring with the lion's head, which Caesar wore when he wanted to greet his friends with a clasp of the hand.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContextHighlight In Chapter 18. The Treasure. 7 The first sight that attracted the eyes of Spada was that of his nephew, in full costume, and Caesar Borgia paying him most marked attentions.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContextHighlight In Chapter 18. The Treasure. 8 Spada turned pale, as Caesar looked at him with an ironical air, which proved that he had anticipated all, and that the snare was well spread.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContextHighlight In Chapter 18. The Treasure. 9 Caesar, poisoned at the same time, escaped by shedding his skin like a snake; but the new skin was spotted by the poison till it looked like a tiger's.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContextHighlight In Chapter 18. The Treasure. 10 The Spadas remained in doubtful ease, a mystery hung over this dark affair, and the public rumor was, that Caesar, a better politician than his father, had carried off from the pope the fortune of the two cardinals.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContextHighlight In Chapter 18. The Treasure. 11 Caesar thought they could make use of one of the means which he always had ready for his friends, that is to say, in the first place, the famous key which was given to certain persons with the request that they go and open a designated cupboard.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContextHighlight In Chapter 18. The Treasure. 12 The pope and Caesar Borgia first found the two future cardinals; they were Giovanni Rospigliosi, who held four of the highest dignities of the Holy See, and Caesar Spada, one of the noblest and richest of the Roman nobility; both felt the high honor of such a favor from the pope.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContextHighlight In Chapter 18. The Treasure. 13 Yet I had read, I had even written a precise history of the Borgia family, for the sole purpose of assuring myself whether any increase of fortune had occurred to them on the death of the Cardinal Caesar Spada; but could only trace the acquisition of the property of the Cardinal Rospigliosi, his companion in misfortune.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContextHighlight In Chapter 18. The Treasure. 14 However, he, like Caesar Borgia, knew the value of time; and, in order to avoid fruitless toil, he sounded all the other walls with his pickaxe, struck the earth with the butt of his gun, and finding nothing that appeared suspicious, returned to that part of the wall whence issued the consoling sound he had before heard.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContextHighlight In Chapter 24. The Secret Cave.