Cassel looked at Montcourt then took another sip. “Really,” he said into his cup.

The party was in full swing by the time Annaba, Kobina, and the Issiny entourage were called from their chambers and led through the palace by Bontemps. At last, Annaba was certain, he and the King would negotiate. It was well past time.

But what lay behind the large double doors was not what he expected and his confidence slipped a little.

The salon was brightly lit and filled with noisy, drunken nobles. A quartet on flute, violin, lute, and chalémie played lively music, causing some nobles to sing, others to attempt to dance. Yet it took only a moment to see that this was a gambling den, for in the center of the room was a large roulette table. People placed bets and cheered as the wheel spun round and round.

But when the nobles noticed the black men at the door they fell silent. The Africans moved into the room, several walking to the roulette table, causing the nobles there to back away.

Kobina whispered, “I think we are not wanted here.”

“I think,” replied Annaba, nodding in the direction of a second, adjoining room, “that the negotiations have indeed begun.”

In the adjoining room the King sat, elegant and regal, at a table set with flowers and food. Beside him was his Queen, Marie-Therese, and around the table were a handful of nobles. There was an empty stool across the table from the King, and Annaba moved forward to join the royal gathering. Two guards stepped in and blocked his way.

Seeing the guards’ action, Marie-Therese put her hand on Louis’ arm and whispered, “Please, husband, don’t toy with Annaba this way.”

Louis looked up and casually waved his hand, and the guards let Annaba proceed. The prince stopped before the table, and after an uncomfortable moment Louis nodded, allowing him to sit.

Slowly, conversation swelled again, filling the rooms. The music resumed and the roulette wheel spun round as bets were laid. Kobina waited by the wall, glancing back and forth, arms crossed. Annaba turned his attention from the King to the game. He watched several minutes and then shouted above the din, “I believe I have a good measure of this game!” He motioned to one of his entourage, who placed a large bag of gold on the roulette table.

The Montespan, who was seated with the nobles at the King’s table, smiled, tossed her head teasingly, and leaned toward Annaba. “You are a man after my own heart, sir.” She stood, laughed, and threw a few coins next to Annaba’s bet.

As the drunken hubbub grew even louder, a footman slipped to the King’s table and handed him a black envelope. Marie-Therese rose to add her coins to the game, but Louis stopped her. Then he announced to the room, “Alas, fortune at this table does not favor us tonight.” He rose and escorted Marie-Therese from the room.