Rafael Sabatini 
Bardelys the Magnificent 

Bardelys the Magnificent is a 1906 historical adventure novel by the Italian-born British writer Rafael Sabatini. It is set in France during the reign of Louis XIII. In 1926 the story was adapted into a film version Bardelys the Magnificent by the Hollywood studio MGM, with John Gilbert playing the title role. It is is a first-person adventure told by a wealthy French nobleman of rakish, but honorable, character. Mistaken identity, romance with a beautiful woman, and delicious revenge serve, as they so often do in stories of this sort, to propel the reader happily through episodes of intrigue and derring-do. Implausible? Improbable? Of course. Engaging? Thrilling? Absolutely. (Goodreads)