The court of Philippe d'Orléans is decked out in its finest attire for an evening that appears brilliant on the surface, but is teeming with intrigue. Under the chandeliers and masks, Lagardère slips among the guests, listening intently to every conversation in search of clues about the assassination of the Duke of Nevers. Philippe de Gonzague and his allies work in the shadows, concealing their maneuvers behind feigned politeness.