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