" The Girl From Lisbon" / Guiora Barak >>>https://did.li/3EfgTfrom the book:"In complete disregard of protocol, the young king went tothe newcomers, hugged and kissed them, Francisco on the cheeks and the bishop on his hand. The king was curious why the bishop had come with Francisco but said nothing. He genuinely appreciated the crates of gold coins Francisco sent every few weeks — his share in the profits of their mutual commercial dealings — and so was willing to give Francisco much leeway in their dealings. “Welcome, my friends. Please, come and sit beside me,” the king instructed and pointed at the sofa where he had settled. “My secretary informs me that you have something special to tell me, Dom Francisco?” “Yes, my king,” Francisco answered while lowering himself into the armchair he’d moved close to the bishop. “It is indeed something unique, whose nature I am not quite certain about yet. Still, I saw the need to tell you about it, as it involves you as well.” “I’m listening,” said the king. Francisco told him about David Reubeni. He passed on only the known facts and especially stressed the pope’s sympathy for the man. When the king asked what he, Francisco, had to do with this story, he answered, as planned, that he had commercial connections in Italy, some of them with Jews. The Jews were hosting and caring for the man, and they had turned to him for assistance because they knew about his connections in the king’s court. “Why do you think the pope has chosen me? I received no notice of this,” said the king. “I’m sure the Holy See’s decision was not arbitrary. The pope knows well the Portuguese passion for discovering new routes over land and sea and for spreading Christianity into the hearts of savages. We all know about the expeditions sent by your forefathers to Africa and Asia and about the famous Templar spirit of the knights of your kingdom.” “You are familiar with this history too?” the king marveled. “Yes, my king. Even thou