The Tunisia Conspiracy

"The Dayi's position is that the territory west of Tlemcen Fortress can be given to the great Sultan in exchange," Touss's envoy, Loom Zaganos, said, making his tone as firm as possible. "But Varsenis is absolutely unacceptable."

The Tlemcen Fortress he mentioned already lay on the border between Morocco and Algiers, over a hundred kilometers short of Varsenis, which the British had proposed.

The Sultan of Morocco merely smiled faintly and gestured for his guests to drink their tea, making no statement on the matter.

He knew the British needed him, so he could leave all this "hard labor" to them.

Sure enough, after hearing the translation, Marquess Wellesley immediately shook his head. "Mr. Envoy, I must remind you that only a few months ago, your country fought a substantial war against the French, and you suffered a complete defeat.

"Moreover, according to the information I have received, the Crown Prince of France also took part in that battle.

"This means that although the French have made no move for now-because their country is experiencing an enormous rebellion-I can assure you that once they quell it, they will immediately remember Algiers's provocation."

The interpreter beside him immediately repeated his words in Arabic.

Zaganos struggled to suppress the anger in his chest. If you British hadn't stirred things up, Algiers wouldn't have lost over ten thousand elite troops at Annaba!

Yet he also knew perfectly well that Algiers was now desperately depleted. If the French really came to settle accounts, they would have no strength to resist.

Thus, when the British proposed last month that Algiers exchange its lands bordering Morocco for Moroccan support, the Divan quickly agreed to the plan.

He had come here merely to bargain as best he could, so he absolutely could not say anything that would