CHAPTER VII

GIOVANNA II. OF NAPLES

“Like Queen Giovanna!”--Anjou succession in Naples--A lover suffocated--King Ladislaus--Many suitors--Hard to please--A rare quality--Marriage ring torn off--Louis d’Anjou’s advance--A poor old Queen--Butterfly courtesans--A champion of physical beauty--A wily woman--The cord of St. Francis--A base-born athlete--The chief of the pages--The Queen’s master--Vampire kisses--Louis _v._ Alfonso--A romantic story--Fair Leonora--Not a tool of the Queen--Fierce rivals--Pulled the Queen’s hands--Giovanna in her lover’s arms--Flashing eyes--Beneath the lips--Superb entertainments--Giovanna discovers the liaison--René bravest of the brave--Treason--Duchess Covella Ruffo and her jewelled poniard--René at Naples--“Il galantuomo Re”--The Jews--Alfonso defeated and a prisoner--Belated pious deeds--Giovanna as the Virgin Mary!--An embassy from Naples--Many claimants for the throne--Isabelle a virago Queen--A macaroni basket--“I’ll not fight with a woman!”--Colossal orgies--A Spartan mother--Decisive battle of Troia--End of the Angevine dynasty--Jean, Duke of Calabria, raises the flag in vain 216-252