They passed weeks, months and years. Almost a decade of peace and quiet passed, in which Andrea devoted himself to the government and political activity, while Lucia took more care of the family affairs, even if she did not neglect to give good advice to her spouse on decisions to be taken and acts to be ratified. In the year of the Lord 1537, harvests in the countryside had been very rich and, as a result, the traditional fair of St. Septimius had been longer and more opulent than usual. Merchants from all over had competed to get a place in the streets of Jesi, where they could place their stands. Precious fabrics, precious stones and exotic merchandise had made their appearance as never before in living memory. They had been stolen and paid for with cash. At the beginning of October, as
