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four.
    â€œ Monsieur has seven. The bank wins.”
    Trent sat there, blinking, staring at the cards. “Oh, God, I am undone.”
    Chance laughed easily. “You before your masters.”
    Again overplaying things, Trent half-stumbled as he rose. His man steadied him.
    Chance shook his head. “No need to pretend for my benefit, Trent.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œYou and Virginia. Your deal to split everything. I know all about it.” Chance smiled. “But she can’t split what she doesn’t have. I call ‘Banco.’”
    Virginia, who had leaned forward to gather both necklaces to her, froze. “What? You can’t possibly. . . .”
    â€œI have a letter of credit good for £5,000,000 on record with the Fortune. ” His good eye tightened. “Care to try your luck?”
    â€œBut of course.” She looked up at Trent. “Our deal still stands. Half of everything.”
    Chance nodded. “Just remember, half of nothing is nothing.”
    â€œNothing ventured, nothing gained.” Virginia shrugged. “After all, you’ve made these baubles worthless, so I venture nothing against your cash.”
    Chance’s mouth opened for a second, and then his shoulders slumped. “I’d better win, then.”
    The manager opened his hands. “ Monsieur Corrigan is the bank. The wager is £3,000,000.” He hit the button. The automaton whirred and dealt.
    Chance lifted his cards. Too much color.
    Virginia flipped her cards over. A deuce and a six. “Eight seems to be my lucky number.”
    Chance exhaled slowly, laying his cards face up on the felt. “Jack and queen. Zero.” He glanced at the manager. “A card, please. A nine would be convenient.”
    The manager patted the automaton’s shoulder. “The choice of card is not up to me, Monsieur . I do wish you good luck.”
    â€œMost kind.”
    The manager touched the fourth button. Gears ground. The automaton’s hand slowly drew back. A card thrust forward. The brass hand delicately plucked the card, and then rotated at the wrist.
    A nine.
    Chance clapped his hands. Virginia gasped and Trent groaned.
    â€œI believe, my dear, the nothing you ventured is now mine. ”
    Virginia nodded slowly. She turned in her chair. Stockton quickly moved to draw it back for her. She smiled at him then, standing, started down at Chance. “So you really did want revenge for Bremen.”
    He removed the blindfold. “We all pay for our sins, Ginnie.”
    She brushed a single tear away. “Such a bitter price.”
    â€œOh, yes, your price.” Chance plucked five of the £10,000 chips from the caddy before the manager and tossed them toward her. “I keep my promises. Your things have been packed. The airship Vesuvius leaves for Naples at dawn. You’ll enjoy your berth.”
    Virginia’s hand hovered for a heartbeat before she scooped up the chips. “I would say, Monsieur , that it has been a pleasure, but I shan’t add prevarication to my list of sins. Gentlemen, good night.” She turned and departed in a rustle of scarlet silk.
    Chance closed the jewel box and slipped it into his pocket. He returned the other necklace to a velvet bag and pocketed it as well. Standing, he smiled. “I should be happy, Monsieur LaPointe, to offer you champagne in the saloon. Too bad, Trent, you won’t be able to join us. You’ve been entertaining but, I do believe, your value in that department is at an end.”

IV
    C licks and snaps gave Chance the warning he’d have denied Trent had their roles been reversed. The nobleman, his bow tie askew, his cheeks flushed with drink, and his arms sheathed with the convincers , blocked the companionway deep in the Fortune’s bowels. Stockton stood further down the passage, his expression almost apologetic.
    Trent, white froth at the corners of his mouth, pointed with a quivering finger.