Melusine, Demon Spawn, and a snippet from A King's Ransom

I have Melusine back, but she is not fully functional yet, for reasons I will not inflict upon you all; you’ve suffered enough through my computer trials and tribulations. Demon Spawn crashed four times on Sunday, so I feel as if I am living with a rattlesnake coiled to strike again as soon as I let down my guard.
On a more cheerful note, Richard now is in full control of England, which means that John is very nervous, indeed. But Eleanor wants him to make peace with Richard, for reasons practical, dynastic, and possibly even maternal, and so she sends a trusted agent to Evreux to convey her wishes to her secret spy in John’s camp.
Here is the start of the exchange between them.
* * *
It took Durand de Curzon a while to find the small, shabby tavern. It was poorly lit by smoking wall rush-lights; he paused in the doorway until his eyes adjusted to the dimness and he saw the man awaiting him at a shadowed corner table.
Sliding onto the bench beside Justin de Quincy, Durand signaled to the serving maid for wine. “A charming hovel you picked for this tryst. What…you could not find a pig-sty?”
“I did look for one,” Justin said laconically, “for I wanted you to feel at home.”
* * *
I guess you can tell that they do not like each other much? Here is another exchange:
* * *
Justin’s message was a coded verbal one, for it was too dangerous to commit anything to writing. “What are your chances of bringing the lost sheep back into the fold?”
“This particular sheep is one for wandering off on his own. I’ll do my best to track him down, though. Once I find him, where should I bring him?”
“To the market at Lisieux.”
Durand nodded, then pushed the bench back, having heard all he needed to know. He did not bother to bid Justin farewell, nor did he bother to pay for his wine.
* * * `
On the historical front, yesterday, October 8th, 1200 was the date upon which John’s lovely child-bride, Isabelle d’Angouleme, was crowned. And today, on October 9th, 1192, Richard sailed from Acre for home—or so he thought. If he had any idea what lay ahead of him, I think he may have given serious consideration to starting life anew in Outremer. Also, on October 9th, 1253, a remarkable man died, Robert Grosseteste, a Renaissance Man before his time—Bishop of Lincoln, theologian, scientist, statesman, and close personal friend of Simon de Montfort.