The moving story of a historical romance which could never come to fruition because of ancient sanctions about the purity of royal blood and the contingencies of the immediate political scene is well-told. To consummate the peace between France and Spain Louis XIV was obliged to wed the Infanta. His consumming passion for Marie Mancini, the niece of Cardinal Mazarin, was forbidden by his mother, Queen Anne, who would not permit the ingression of common blood; it was squelched by Mazarin himself who realized that his support of Marie would alienate him from the Queen, attenuate his power, and cancel the opportunity to win the confidence of the French by effectuating the much longed-for peace. Tremendous pressure was brought to bear and the relationship dissolved. The alliance with Spain was concluded and the charming but unhappy Marie married Prince Colonna, returned to Italy never to appear again in the audience of that person to whom she so genuinely engaged her affections. A good love story with no offense to the historian.