CHAPTER 2

In the eleventh arrondissement of Paris, not far from the town hall, is a small park named Place Voltaire. Situated on the Rue de la Roquette, the relaxing area is an oasis in the middle of a bustling urbane Parisian neighborhood.

Directly across the rue from the park is an eighteenth century stone building of three stories. The building has served as the Parisian home of the Counts Sevinne since first being built and it had been only at the dawn of the twenty-first century that their profligate lifestyle had forced the present Count to consider renting the family townhouse.

The home is luxuriously appointed and very expensive to maintain and Count Sevinne had been most grateful to rent it over one year ago to a young woman of independent means. The young woman had not quibbled over price, only requesting that she be given six months advance notice if the Count had plans to reoccupy the home. Since the Count could no longer afford this luxury in addition to his family estate, he was only too happy to grant this provision.

The lease was drawn and Count Sevinne presented the keys of the home to Countess Mondra Czermintek. Her financial credentials had been verified by a prestigious Swiss bank and the Count had felt great relief in finding a long term tenant for his personal albatross. And, who knows, he thought to himself, if the Countess remained here long enough, he might finally have found someone to take it off his hands at his exhorbitant asking price.

The Countess had recently paid a second year`s rent in advance and Count Sevinne had casually let her know that the home could be had for the right price. The Countess had thanked him and replied that she would consider his offer. Perhaps they would talk further at the end of the year`s lease.

Respecting her privacy, the Count agreed, gathered his mistress, and set off for a month`s vacation in Monaco. The gaming tables at Monte Carlo beckoned!