Outside Beowulf had walked up the long drive to the Monastery gate. The guards standing outside the steel bound door watched him climb up the steps and knock loudly.
‘Who is it, out there?’ shouted Heinrich through the metal grille.
‘It’s me, Beowulf,’ said Beowulf, ‘I’ve come to kidnap the fake King of France and replace him with his brother.’
Mascarpone had rushed into the gambling room and announced the Britons’ arrival.
‘Majesty, Cardinal, Marshall, I am very happy to present Boo Dikka, the Queen of Britain and her advisors Dorf and Caractacus.’
He then saw that Lewis had followed,
‘Oh, and this is her servant. We are so lucky that they were able to come at such short notice!’
The room went very quiet, for a moment and then exploded in angry noise.
‘Why are they here?’
‘Who let them in?’
‘What do you mean, lucky?’
Cardinal Mascarpone spread his hands to indicate that he could answer all questions, while uttering a silent prayer that, somehow, he could gloss over this social disaster.
‘I distinctly remember you telling me that the Pope was concerned about the growth of British influence,’ Mascarpone addressed Bull, who was not prepared to discuss Papal foreign policy in public.
‘So I thought that what the Holy Father, God bless Him, would want to happen, is for the new British rulers to be influenced by an established, civilised, cultured nation; such as France. This desire to please His Holiness and follow his wishes in all things required me to invite our new friends.’
As no one was exactly sure what the view of the Pope regarding the Britons was and the French were suitably flattered in Mascarpone’s introduction, no one could summon the stern resolve required to immediately throw the Britons out. In that moment, they moved in.
‘I say; is that poker?’ asked Caractacus, ‘I understand the principles, but have never actually played; jolly interesting!’
‘I prefer black jack,’ said Dorf mournfully. Both the Queen’s advisors were quick to take their seats.
The Queen had remained standing,
‘I understand that congratulations are required; your Highness is betrothed to a wonderful girl. We are honoured to be invited to your party.’
‘Thank you, sit down,’ was all that Louie-Louie could manage, ‘you are very welcome.’
‘I hope you’ve brought a lot of gold,’ grumbled Marshall Gney.
The dealer dealt.