After the pope's death and his son's exile, it was supposed that the Spada family would resume the splendid position they had held before the cardinal's time; but this was not the case.

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.

I say the two, because Cardinal Rospigliosi, who had not taken any precaution, was completely despoiled.
"Up to this point," said Faria, interrupting the thread of his narrative, "this seems to you very meaningless, no doubt, eh ?" "Oh, my friend," cried Dantes, "on the contrary, it seems as if I were reading a most interesting narrative; go on, I beg of you." "I will." "The family began to get accustomed to their obscurity.

Years rolled on, and amongst the descendants some were soldiers, others diplomatists; some churchmen, some bankers; some grew rich, and some were ruined.

I come now to the last of the family, whose secretary I was--the Count of Spada.