Black Jack Was the Queen's Undoing

King Philippe II of Spain was very suspicious of his wife the Queen Elisabetta. He was sure that she was having it on with his son, Don Carlos. Now it was okay for the King to have a mistress, which he did, but it was not okay for the Queen to be messing around. King Philippe had heard rumors that the Queen was seen playing black jack with Don Carlos. That was surely a bad sign because he knew that black jack was Carlos' favorite game. Philippe also loved to play black jack, but he had never been able to get his Queen to play black jack with him.

Black Jack Is Found in the Queen's Treasure Box

Philippe had one of the servants bring the Queen's treasure box into his study and there he awaited the appearance of Elisabetta. When she came running to him to report that her treasure box had been stolen, he presented it to her and asked her to open it. The Queen refused. Philippe became angry and forced it open. And there lay the Queen's secrets: a small portrait of his son, Don Carlos, and a set of black jack cards. "Now I know that the rumors are true", said the King. You have been having a black jack affair with Carlos". "Never!" cried the Queen. "I love to play black jack and when I am bored with palace life I retreat to my room to play black jack. It is unfair of you to suspect me of anything worse than that." "And Carlos' portrait? What of that?" asked the King. "But you know that before I married you I was engaged to Carlos and we were to be married. Then affairs of state changed my fortune and I was forced to marry you in order to make peace between France and Spain. The black jack has nothing to do with Carlos, and I have never been unfaithful to you". Unfortunately, all this talk did not help the Queen very much. Philippe didn't throw her out, but he put Carlos in prison and made Elisabetta play black jack with him every night.