We entered; to embrace happily our dear friend Anne, who I am sure, tried to hide her feelings to see again "les filles des grands chemins after almost two months! Like children at Christmas, who cannot wait until Christmas Eve, I already walked into the now familiar living room, to go straight to our dearest Juliette! Can there anything be more delightful, like dear friends seeing each other after a seemingly  long time? There was laughter in the air, happy faces, gifts opened up, ah's oh's from all sites to be heard! Our Juliette saying to us: " Girls, no, you should not spoil me so much", admiring a very beautiful "Shield of France" with three lilies (blason de France aux 3 fleurs de lys") on it, presented by Hèléne, smiling at Frédérique for bringing her, her favourite biscuits of Fossier and a chuckle on her beautiful face, that Mistral had brought her those famous Swiss chocolates from "Sprüngli"! That well-known shop in Zürich, Switzerland, which Juliette has mentioned in "L'Anneau d'Atlantide" the latest book of her bestseller Aldo Morosini!

 

After the first joyous excitement, we sat down and Anne already served us a delicious bread, filled with all kinds of different flavours, followed by a sparkling Rosé Champagne from Reims. Between chatting, eating, drinking and laughter, we exchanged news with Juliette. Frédérique showed her some new creations she had done for her Blog. I was very happy to bring her greetings, from her faithful fans all over the world. Even if I may have said this before, Juliette Benzoni is deeply touched by the love her readers offer her! She sends every one of you all her heartfelt gratitude and profound thank you.
She has begun writing the 11th Aldo Morosini, a series for which she has a deep pleasure, as she told us. She presented me also with the answers to the interview I had asked by our last visit. I looked at the sheets, thinking for the hundredth time, it cannot really be that "Juliette Benzoni" my beloved writer of all time, has answered,  my questions! We were most curious to know what her answer to question number twelve would be.

I recommend all Juliette Benzoni's readers, friends, critics, journalists and future-to-be writers, to go and read her outstanding answers! Cautiously I had asked my dearest Juliette, what she thought of Mistral's questions ;-) !! She gave me that look which I have come to love and said: „they are good questions and you can ask anytime more if you like" - smiling at Frédérique and saying that she could naturally do the same!
 

During a phone call with Frédérique, Juliette had informed her, that she had found something which could maybe be of interest for our websites! When we were now shown the "surprise", our hearts beat faster! It was a photo album, aged by time but in excellent shape! This invaluable album which had dozed for many years on a save and almost forgotten place - showed the foundation of Juliette Benzoni's Trophy of the Alexandre Dumas Prix in 1974. (Juliette received the Alexandre Dumas Prix in 1973) She was not only the founder, but also the president of the much acclaimed Trophy of the Alexandre Dumas Prix. She was supported by none other than ALAIN DECAUX, (a well known historian, and broadcast moderator on French TV, for his documentation on history) and president of "the Association Friends of Alexandre Dumas". 
 We were looking at some of the Trophy winners, like the famous and unforgettable French actor "Jean Marais" of many very popular movies like: The Captain (by André Hunebelle), (Mistral's first movie she watched in cinema, about Chevaliers and the French Kings! ) The Count of Monte Christo (by Robert Vernay) or the The Beauty and the Beast (by Jean Cocteau)
I surely must mention our beloved and alas not with us anymore, Philippe Clay as Black Fish in Marianne, une étoile pour Napoleon, as Barnaby in Catherine, Il suffit d'un amour and as le baron Winkleried in "Le Gerfaut (The Lure of the Falcon). The irresistible Philippe Clay, played in three of Marion Sarraut's TV-Adaptation, after the novels by Juliette Benzoni.
The very attractive Jean Piat, one of the jury members of the "Trophy Alexandre Dumas", an acclaimed theatre director, actor, of the comedie française and a very good personal friend of Juliette Benzoni. (To the younger generation in France, he is known for lending his voice to Ian McKellen (Gandalf) in the Lord of the Rings series.) On one of those photos we see a young and very beautiful Juliette, holding the sword, which she presented to the newest Award winner. On another photo, looking breathtakingly in a dream of a dress she bought in Mexico! Apart of the documents of the founding of the "Alexandre Dumas Prix" there is more awesome material.

We were invited to lunch at the beautifully decorated table in the dining-room. I am sure I speak also for Frédérique and Hélène, being guests in the house of Juliette and Anne, is a unforgettable event! Not only does it look like we are at Versailles, at King Louis XIV table, also everything is prepared with so much love, be it the food, the vine and the decoration of the table, with is beautiful dishes and glasses!
 When we were served dessert, I experienced a big and stunning surprise! Juliette and Anne, who knew that I had had celebrated my birthday at the beginning of September - had gone to buy me a birthday cake at the famous LeNôtre! A candle was even lit and Mistral had much difficulty, to hold back her tears! What can I say, else then: „thank you so much, my very dearest Juliette and Anne! You are such remarkable and astounding women"! It is for me to say now: "how did I deserve all that"?
 
Like all the previous meetings with Juliette, time went by too fast for us. She affirmed again, that she would very much like to write an Eight Catherine book, saying that she hoped that God granted her that wish. I am sure that all of us, who are "Catherine de Montsalvy" fans, have rejoiced about that NEWS!! I admit, it has not been easy for me, these last eleven months, to keep quiet about this sensational, never expected magnificence tidings! How many times, has Mistral, and I am convinced, million of faithful Catherine de Montsalvy readers, asked themselves: „what could have happened after the end of "La Dame de Montsalvy? What new troubles could have awaited our heroine? Did she meet again Duke Philippe? What became of her daughter Isabelle, who seemed to have inherited her father’s fierce and proud character? Did little Michel de Montsalvy go to his godfather Xaintrailles to become a knight? Or did he enter as a page into the household of Bernard d'Armagnac?