"You are perfectly aware that you could find no reasonable pretext for such a step--that Pushkin would not suffer it." "I knew how it was! Check to your king! You will soon have lost the game. Then you will jump up indignantly, complain of the smoky atmosphere, and retire to your own room. I shall sit down behind Alexander Sergievitch's chair and criticise his play. That is the way the best of friends fall out. One word leads to another. I am hot-headed, so is he. Finally, I let myself be turned out of doors. Now do you understand my game?" "Not yet. I can still castle my king. I will not allow you to leave our house." "If you say 'our' house again I will leave it on the spot. The very thought that the same roof covers me, my happiness, and the robber of that happiness makes even this paradise into purgatory to me. Check to your king and queen!" "Then we shall be compelled to exchange queens. I take yours, you mine. I will not have you leave me. Who knows, after all, if the angel be as white as she is painted?" she added, with a fascinating glance at the Chevalier. Zeneida had thus taught her. "You overlooked this move. Checkmate!" "By Jove! you have won!" "Shall we begin another game?" "The conqueror has the first move." "Have you heard anything since of my poor, dear mother?" "It is well that you have touched on the theme yourself. I assure you, had you not asked me I would not have started it. And yet it was principally that which brought me here. The queen wishes to see you." "Really? Since I was parted from her I have only seen her twice, in the Winter Palace, on New-year's day." "Now you will be seeing your mother face to face. I have managed to obtain permission for you to visit the queen in her convent." "Have you got it with you?" "Do you want to show it to Alexander Sergievitch?" "Oh no. It must be kept secret from him." "Then leave the permit in my keeping. It is in very good hands. Pushkin dare not accompany you himself; it were an act of misdemeanor. As soon as you have opportunity to use it, you can obtain the permit from me." "Yes. If Pushkin were leaving home for a few days." "You send to me and I will forward it to you at once." "But with this sending backward and forward two whole precious days will be lost. Would it not be better if I were to come and fetch it myself?" Clever little woman! "Were this happiness to fall to my lot I would set fire to all four corners of my castle instantly upon your departure, that, after you, no other guest should be received there." "Checkmate! I led you on beautifully! I merely went on chattering to take your attention off the game. It was a thorough stalemate. And now you can retire to rest, Chevalier. Good-night!" Bethsaba left the room. Chevalier Galban, however, rose from the chess-table with a full sense of triumph; he was convinced that he had won the game. As a rule he was accustomed to win two out of every three games he played. The third he usually lost.