Extraordinary Cloak and Dagger novel situated during the time of Louis XIII during the XVIIth century in France. During the early part of his reign, this young king faces several competing factions which all conspire against him as well as against each other one. Noticeable are the one led by the Duke of Angouleme, the Duc of Guise (son of "le Balafre" assassinated in Blois) and Richelieu. In this time of civil war and intrigues, Le Capitan's pace is stupendous from the dark gothic of Concino Concini's secret chambers to the ominous Bastille and its luxurious apartments where all the guests are involuntary ones.

A treaty of poisons by the little people and talented alchemist of Leonora Galigai, wife of Concino Concini supplements planturous meals in various inns and treatorous duels in the Louvre palace's lobbies, castles or in streets of Paris and Meudon.

With a Commedia dell'Arte twist, Zevaco compares his heroe to the stock character of El Capitan, self deprecating, and coming out greater each time from situations where no one knows where they go and how they got there in the first place. ( )