第42章

"Then how many moves are you going to allow me?""Is THAT to be part of the bargain? Why, none, of course.""At least allow me two."

"No, none. I myself am only a poor player."

"_I_ know you and your poor play," said Nozdrev, moving a chessman.

"In fact, it is a long time since last I had a chessman in my hand,"replied Chichikov, also moving a piece.

"Ah! _I_ know you and your poor play," repeated Nozdrev, moving a second chessman.

"I say again that it is a long time since last I had a chessman in my hand." And Chichikov, in his turn, moved.

"Ah! _I_ know you and your poor play," repeated Nozdrev, for the third time as he made a third move. At the same moment the cuff of one of his sleeves happened to dislodge another chessman from its position.

"Again, I say," said Chichikov, "that 'tis a long time since last--But hi! look here! Put that piece back in its place!""What piece?"

"This one." And almost as Chichikov spoke he saw a third chessman coming into view between the queens. God only knows whence that chessman had materialised.

"No, no!" shouted Chichikov as he rose from the table. "It is impossible to play with a man like you. People don't move three pieces at once.""How 'three pieces'? All that I have done is to make a mistake--to move one of my pieces by accident. If you like, I will forfeit it to you.""And whence has the third piece come?"

"What third piece?"

"The one now standing between the queens?"

"'Tis one of your own pieces. Surely you are forgetting?""No, no, my friend. I have counted every move, and can remember each one. That piece has only just become added to the board. Put it back in its place, I say.""Its place? Which IS its place?" But Nozdrev had reddened a good deal. "I perceive you to be a strategist at the game.""No, no, good friend. YOU are the strategist--though an unsuccessful one, as it happens.""Then of what are you supposing me capable? Of cheating you?""I am not supposing you capable of anything. All that I say is that Iwill not play with you any more."

"But you can't refuse to," said Nozdrev, growing heated. "You see, the game has begun.""Nevertheless, I have a right not to continue it, seeing that you are not playing as an honest man should do.""You are lying--you cannot truthfully say that.""'Tis you who are lying."

"But I have NOT cheated. Consequently you cannot refuse to play, but must continue the game to a finish.""You cannot force me to play," retorted Chichikov coldly as, turning to the chessboard, he swept the pieces into confusion.

Nozdrev approached Chichikov with a manner so threatening that the other fell back a couple of paces.

"I WILL force you to play," said Nozdrev. "It is no use you making a mess of the chessboard, for I can remember every move. We will replace the chessmen exactly as they were.""No, no, my friend. The game is over, and I play you no more.""You say that you will not?"

"Yes. Surely you can see for yourself that such a thing is impossible?""That cock won't fight. Say at once that you refuse to play with me."And Nozdrev approached a step nearer.

"Very well; I DO say that," replied Chichikov, and at the same moment raised his hands towards his face, for the dispute was growing heated. Nor was the act of caution altogether unwarranted, for Nozdrev also raised his fist, and it may be that one of her hero's plump, pleasant-looking cheeks would have sustained an indelible insult had not he (Chichikov) parried the blow and, seizing Nozdrev by his whirling arms, held them fast.

"Porphyri! Pavlushka!" shouted Nozdrev as madly he strove to free himself.

On hearing the words, Chichikov, both because he wished to avoid rendering the servants witnesses of the unedifying scene and because he felt that it would be of no avail to hold Nozdrev any longer, let go of the latter's arms; but at the same moment Porphyri and Pavlushka entered the room--a pair of stout rascals with whom it would be unwise to meddle.

"Do you, or do you not, intend to finish the game?" said Nozdrev.

"Give me a direct answer."

"No; it will not be possible to finish the game," replied Chichikov, glancing out of the window. He could see his britchka standing ready for him, and Selifan evidently awaiting orders to draw up to the entrance steps. But from the room there was no escape, since in the doorway was posted the couple of well-built serving-men.