A swirling maelstrom of events surround the great Cardinal Richeleau and his clever successor Mazarin. One of those who hate Richeleau is the man known as The Devil, whose hatred is rivalled only by the nine wicked men who follow him. As they lie hidden in the forests of Fontainebleu, the innocent Félicité escapes the stern vigilance of the chatelaine of the Chateâu Noir. The Devil takes her under his wing and the wicked men, touched by her innocence, swear to protect her from evil. In the midst of intrigue this innocent girl grows to womanhood even as she follows them in their adventures from France to England and thence to Canada. There's intrigue and hatred, a clash of wills between Mazarin and Cromwell, the romance of the Devil and the chatelaine of Château Noir, the pursuing hatred of the one known as the Leopard, the pseudo-gypsy Canice and fierce Indian attacks on Montreal and Quebec. This title is an abridged edition of Maelstrom.