The drizzle over the Tiber River had just begun to ease when the sun impatiently poked its head out, turning even the air crystal clear.
On the bridge deck of the French Steam Frigate Tunis, Major Luca immediately raised his Telescope toward the river mouth.
It was the only thing he could do now.
Just as he thought he would have to wait through another barren day, a swath of black smoke rose over the line where sea met sky.
He immediately said excitedly to his staff officer, "Major Denipol and the others are back!"
The last message brought back by the Messenger two days ago had said that the Marines had boarded steam tugs and headed for Rome.
The fleet quickly got underway, sailing toward Fiumicino Port to meet Denipol and his party.
"May God keep His Highness the prince safe and sound..." As he spoke, his eyes suddenly widened.
The flag fluttering atop the steam tug emerging from the river mouth bore a pair of crossed keys and three stacked golden crowns. He froze for several seconds before turning to the Orderly Officer. "Signal them. Confirm the identities of those two ships."
Half an hour later.
Inside the cabin of the narrow inland tug Ostia, Major Luca swept his gaze over the bedraggled Cardinals before finally settling it on the Pope.
He had never imagined that he would truly get the chance to carry out this mission.
Yes, his mission here had been to evacuate the Pope by sea after the riots in Rome spiraled out of control.
Although Naples had later intervened in Rome's situation, he had not yet received orders to return to Toulon.
Yet the Pope had suddenly appeared here.
Luca stepped forward and dropped to one knee, lowering his head in a gesture of