Manof Chpt40

Chapter 40

(One of the ancient caves at Brantome, above)

The Citroen was parked near the Place Ste Croix at exactly eight thirty. There were few cars but many of the locals were rushing to mass as the giant bells beckoned. Bruce noticed that there were more women than men entering. The men had already gathered around the square sitting silently.

They would be there all day. Some carried canes. One had only one arm and others just sat quietly looking tired even as their day began. The older men wore berets. The younger men stayed huddled under the statue. In the background, children walked in pairs carrying school books.

Shopkeepers Begin to Raise Their Awnings

Shopkeepers were raising their awnings. Orleans was coming to life. A man with a cartload of potatoes stopped in the square and waited for buyers. His tired horse shifted from foot to foot reaching for a few blades of grass just out of reach. Bruce suggested that they visit the Museum des Beaux Arts since the mass would impede their tour. It would last less than an hour. They walked to the museum door. It would open at nine.

Bruce consulted a guidebook. The Cathedrale Ste-Croix dated from the 13th century. The original building had been destroyed by the dreaded Huguenots years earlier and Orleans now boasted a double spiraled ornate gothic construction the people could be proud of. Inside, the martyrdom of Joan was portrayed in stained glass. It showed her kneeling before Cardinal Touchet who had fought for her canonization.

Bruce was anxious to see the golden treasures of the crypt as well as the painting of Christ Bearing the Cross.
By the time he finished reading his book, the doors of the museum swung open. A friendly young lady greeted them with a smile. They were the only ones entering the museum at that time.

They spent almost an hour looking at what Bruce said was a 'first class' exhibit. Included in the selection were many 19th century paintings and Diego Velazquez's St Thomas. He knew the painting well as he had once been called to help authenticate that work by a New York client. Of course he pointed out that it was a bad copy. Here was the original.

Seeing the Strength of European Painting

Bruce smiled. It was beautiful and showed the strength of European painting from the 14th to 20th century. Upstairs they admired the collection of rich enameled statuettes.

Here too they found remnants of the war. At one end part of an outer wall was being repaired to the noise of masons hammers and tired horses dragging mammoth hewn rocks.

By the time they entered the church it was empty except for the women stationed at the door and begging for alms. Bruce gave them each a coin and they began mumbling prayers of thanks.
They enjoyed the richness of the Cathedral nave. Marie-Claude knelt for a few seconds, crossed herself and said a prayer Bruce went out to have a cigar.

(A side view of the castle)

"I said a prayer for you," she smiled.

"You prayed that I'd find your picture, I'll bet."

"Then you'd lose your bet. It was a prayer of thanks."

Bruce put his arm around the young woman and gently squeezed her shoulders in a fatherly fashion."

They Enter the Hotel Groslot

At Place de L'Etape they entered the Hotel Groslot. It was an outstanding looking building; one of the nicest in Orleans. A plaque dated the construction back to between 1549 and 1555 and was, until recently the town hall. The red brick crossed with black turned out to be a grand residence with scrolled staircase pillars shaped like caryatids all very ornate.

It was certainly fit for a King. And Bruce noted that it was also a fit place for a king to die, remembering what he had been told about the young Francoise II. They admired the statue of St Joan and decided it was time to move on.

When they arrived at their car they noticed that someone had put a note on the window. Marie-Claude read and translated.
'Be careful. Your front left tire is almost flat.'

"I guess the garage mechanic didn't check too thoroughly. Ask one of the men if there's a garage nearby."

Marie Claude approached three older men on a bench. The men had been watching them. When she asked directions to a garage, nobody answered. She repeated herself and one old man pointed his cane south.

They drove away slowly. So much for French helpfulness.

(Click here for Chapter 41)


	Chapter 40 (One of the ancient caves at Brantome, above) The Citroen was parked near the Place Ste Croix at exactly eight thirty. There were few cars but many of the locals were rushing to mass as the giant bells beckoned. Bruce noticed that there were more women than men entering. The men had already gathered around the square sitting silently. They would be there all day. Some carried canes. One had only one arm and others just sat quietly looking tired even as their day began. The older men wore berets. The younger men stayed huddled under the statue. In the background, children walked in pairs carrying school books. Shopkeepers Begin to Raise Their Awnings Shopkeepers were raising their awnings. Orleans was coming to life. A man with a cartload of potatoes stopped in the square and waited for buyers. His tired horse shifted from foot to foot reaching for a few blades of grass just out of reach. Bruce suggested that they visit the Museum des Beaux Arts since the mass would impede their tour. It would last less than an hour. They walked to the museum door. It would open at nine. Bruce consulted a guidebook. The Cathedrale Ste-Croix dated from the 13th century. The original building had been destroyed by the dreaded Huguenots years earlier and Orleans now boasted a double spiraled ornate gothic construction the people could be proud of. Inside, the martyrdom of Joan was portrayed in stained glass. It showed her kneeling before Cardinal Touchet who had fought for her canonization. Bruce was anxious to see the golden treasures of the crypt as well as the painting of Christ Bearing the Cross. By the time he finished reading his book, the doors of the museum swung open. A friendly young lady greeted them with a smile. They were the only ones entering the museum at that time. They spent almost an hour looking at what Bruce said was a 'first class' exhibit. Included in the selection were many 19th century paintings and Diego Velazquez's St Thomas. He knew the painting well as he had once been called to help authenticate that work by a New York client. Of course he pointed out that it was a bad copy. Here was the original. Seeing the Strength of European Painting Bruce smiled. It was beautiful and showed the strength of European painting from the 14th to 20th century. Upstairs they admired the collection of rich enameled statuettes. Here too they found remnants of the war. At one end part of an outer wall was being repaired to the noise of masons hammers and tired horses dragging mammoth hewn rocks. By the time they entered the church it was empty except for the women stationed at the door and begging for alms. Bruce gave them each a coin and they began mumbling prayers of thanks. They enjoyed the richness of the Cathedral nave. Marie-Claude knelt for a few seconds, crossed herself and said a prayer Bruce went out to have a cigar. (A side view of the castle) "I said a prayer for you," she smiled. "You prayed that I'd find your picture, I'll bet." "Then you'd lose your bet. It was a prayer of thanks." Bruce put his arm around the young woman and gently squeezed her shoulders in a fatherly fashion." They Enter the Hotel Groslot At Place de L'Etape they entered the Hotel Groslot. It was an outstanding looking building; one of the nicest in Orleans. A plaque dated the construction back to between 1549 and 1555 and was, until recently the town hall. The red brick crossed with black turned out to be a grand residence with scrolled staircase pillars shaped like caryatids all very ornate. It was certainly fit for a King. And Bruce noted that it was also a fit place for a king to die, remembering what he had been told about the young Francoise II. They admired the statue of St Joan and decided it was time to move on. When they arrived at their car they noticed that someone had put a note on the window. Marie-Claude read and translated. 'Be careful. Your front left tire is almost flat.' "I guess the garage mechanic didn't check too thoroughly. Ask one of the men if there's a garage nearby." Marie Claude approached three older men on a bench. The men had been watching them. When she asked directions to a garage, nobody answered. She repeated herself and one old man pointed his cane south. They drove away slowly. So much for French helpfulness. (Click here for Chapter 41)