Messer Papero and the florins of Mastro Adamo
Messer Papero and the florins of Mastro Adamo is the third chapter of the funny comic-strip Saga of Messer Papero, first published in “Topolino”(Mickey Mouse) issue 1427 of March 27th 1983. An engaging story written by Guido Martina and illustrated by Giovan Battista Carpi, which tells about the arrival of Messer Papero (Uncle Scrooge) and his nephew Paperino (Donald Duck) Lanaiolo in Arezzo, in exile from Florence.
Having been banished from Florence on false charges and fled from Pisa to escape the seizure of his precious barrel full of gold florins, which he had managed to take from Florence, Messer Papero resumes the path of exile that leads him to the city of Arezzo. There he meets the poet Francesco Petrarca, who tells him the story of Mastro Adamo da Brescia.
The latter, who was a skilled smelter and chiseller of metals and coins, was persuaded by a certain Count Guidi to make fake gold florins to offend the Florentines, his bitter enemies. The smelter immediately set to work and in no time at all the fake gold florins were put into circulation, the defect of which was soon discovered. Unfortunately, due to Mastro Adamo’s fame as an engraver, he was unmasked and his house was burnt down.
When the story is finished, the poet turns on Messer Papero because he had admitted that he did not know his verses and, offended, leaves. The ducks then enter Arezzo, where they find an agitated crowd heading for the square. Messer Papero asks for information and discovers that the Saracen Joust is being held in the city today. Irritated by the prize, a golden lance, Messer Papero convinces his nephew to participate. Unexpectedly, during the race Paperino’s horse takes off furiously and incredibly manages to win. After the race, the ducks meet two tramps who buy the horse they used for the race with two fake coins. The same coins that the ducks will use to pay the bill of an inn, and that, once discovered, will decree the end of their stay in Arezzo and the beginning of a new, hasty escape to Italy.
Fonte: PaperPedia
