If that queen were free, I could finish everything."
"Oh, oh--I've told you it's a stupid game with stupid rules--and it
makes its players--" She did not complete that, but went about on
another tack--with the danger note in her voice. "Just now I overheard
your caller say a thing--"
"Ah, I feared you overheard."
The arrogance of the gesture with which she interrupted me was splendid.
"He said, 'How long are you going to keep up that--that--'"
"That will do," I said severely. "Remember there is a gentleman
present." But my voice sounded queerly indeed to the ears most familiar
with its quality. Also it trembled, for her gaze, almost stern in its
questioning, had not released me.
"But how long _are_ you?" Her own voice had trembled, as mine did. She
might as well have used the avoided word. Her tone carried it far too
intelligibly. It was quite as bad as swearing. I tried twice before I
succeeded in finding my voice.
"I've _told_ you," I said desperately; "can't you see--that queen isn't
free?"
Swiftly--I regret to say, almost with a show of temper--she snatched the
four of diamonds from its lawful place and laid it brazenly far outside
the game.
"The creature _is_ free," she said crisply--but at once her arrogance
was gone and she drooped visibly in weakness.
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