Epilogue Summary

Anastasius never does achieve the throne of the papacy, since Lothar withdraws his support of him and sends him to a monastery. Anastasius finally is appointed by Pope Nicholas as papal librarian, an office he holds for thirty years. Anastasius, now eight-seven, is respected around the world for his learning, his Liber Pontificalis, the history of popes, being his legacy. Since he is the one who wrote the history, he obliterated Joan's name from the official record of Popes and her story is lost and forgotten.

However, Archibishop Arnaldo, who copies the book years later, restores Joan's name to the list. Arnaldo, actually Arnalda, is the daughter of Arn, still wears the St. Catherine medallion given to her by Joan when she was a girl, and like Joan, disguises herself as a man to pursue her ambitions.

The author feels that the disappearance...