-Yes, sir, said the cardinal, you barely twenty-six.

-Trent, my lord.

The Cardinal laughed.

Sir, he said, when I am going to Rome to be consecrated bishop, Pope Paul V asked me my age, like you, so I aged two years and said twenty-five years, with no only twenty-three. He consecrated bishop, but after the coronation I threw myself at her feet and asked him absolution. He gave me and I confessed that I lied and then had two years older.

Do you want absolution?

-I ask you, sir, ’said Mazarin, laughing, the day I want to be bishop.

-Is it your intention?

-If I had the hope of one day as your Eminence Cardinal.

-It will be easy with the protection you have.

And who said to my Lord that I had protection?

The mission-which you are responsible for, I do you said, you just talk to me from the Cardinal Antonio Barberini.

Ma-protection, in any case would only be second hand, since I am the only protected the nephew of His Holiness.