The Medici Return Chapter 71: Stefano’s Dilemma and Ascolani’s Plan
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary (complete and chronological)
After leaving Santa Maria di Castello, Stefano drives Ascolani away from the Carthusian monastery. Stefano notices flickering lights off the road—likely fire—but Ascolani insists that his people are handling it and orders an immediate return to Siena. Stefano’s distrust of Ascolani swells; he recalls his Entity training that no impersonation can be sustained forever.
Meanwhile, Thomas enters Siena’s Campo after a rainy drive. He examines the document he retrieved—brittle, signed, written in Latin—but accepts that he will never learn its full significance. He prays at the fountain, hoping the assignment is finished.
Stefano, after dropping Ascolani outside Siena’s walls, ignores the order to return to Rome. He decides to pursue the truth on his own, despite the risk of banishment. He follows Ascolani through wet streets, noting the cardinal’s circuitous route. In the Campo, Stefano watches from concealment as Ascolani meets with Thomas, who hands over a document (the Pledge of Christ). Ascolani then instructs Thomas to assassinate Eric Casaburi, an Italian politician, promising additional payment. The cardinal departs.
Stefano, unable to trust anyone in the Curia, resolves to contact Cardinal Stamm—the man who recruited him and a known enemy of Ascolani. He heads back to Rome to find Stamm, leaving the Campo behind.
Key Events
- Stefano observes fires near the Carthusian monastery but Ascolani refuses to investigate.
- Thomas delivers the Pledge of Christ to Ascolani in Siena’s Campo.
- Ascolani orders Thomas to kill political figure Eric Casaburi.
- Stefano follows Ascolani, witnesses the handoff and assassination order, and decides to seek out Cardinal Stamm.
- Stefano returns to Rome, bypassing Curia authority.
Character Development
- Stefano: His internal conflict deepens. He moves from passive obedience to active rebellion, risking his career to uncover the truth. His Entity training resurfaces, making him question even a master actor like Ascolani. The decision to go to Stamm marks a decisive break from institutional loyalty.
- Thomas: Remains a shadowy operative. He asks no questions about the document, performs his task efficiently, and shows a flicker of spirituality through prayer. His willingness to accept a political murder without hesitation underscores his amorality.
- Cardinal Ascolani: Reveals a new layer of ruthlessness by ordering a political assassination. His dismissive attitude toward Stefano’s concerns and his circuitous route indicate a practiced paranoia. He trusts no one, yet relies on Thomas for wet work.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Distrust and Surveillance: Stefano’s surveillance of Ascolani mirrors the book’s wider theme of espionage within the Church. The metaphor of “good actors” recurs, emphasizing that everyone performs a role.
- Oath vs. Conscience: Stefano struggles between his oath to the Entity and his growing moral objections. Choosing to break orders to find Stamm represents a personal redefinition of loyalty.
- Political Assassination as a Tool: Ascolani’s order to kill Casaburi introduces a secular power dimension. The Church, through Ascolani, is willing to eliminate political enemies, blurring sacred and profane.
- The Campo as a Stage: Siena’s main square, scene of the historic Palio, becomes the backdrop for a clandestine transaction—a quiet, rain-soaked exchange that decides a man’s life.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter escalates the stakes from a historical relic hunt to a direct political murder plot. Stefano’s decision to align with Cardinal Stamm fractures the Entity internally and sets up a confrontation between two powerful prelates. Thomas’s cold acceptance of the assassination order cements his role as an amoral instrument. The chapter also reveals the Pledge of Christ’s transfer, confirming that Ascolani now holds the document that drives the rest of the narrative.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why does Stefano decide to pursue Ascolani rather than return to Rome?
Stefano is disillusioned by Ascolani’s lies and the fires he saw near the monastery. He believes that waiting for events to clear up naturally will not work, and he feels an oath of service compels him to learn the truth, even at the cost of his career. -
What does Ascolani’s order to kill Eric Casaburi reveal about his character?
It shows that Ascolani is willing to use murder to achieve political ends, moving far beyond ecclesiastical intrigue. He treats assassination as a routine service, offering additional payment without hesitation. This deepens his portrayal as a ruthless, power-consolidating figure. -
How does Stefano’s choice to contact Cardinal Stamm change the direction of the plot?
By going outside the Curia hierarchy to Ascolani’s known enemy, Stefano initiates a direct power struggle. Stamm now becomes a potential ally for Stefano, and the story shifts from internal Entity conflict to an open confrontation between two cardinals.