Page:The Diothas, or, A far look ahead (IA diothasorfarlook01macn).pdf/106

 the reply. "I sat up late to no purpose, and was on my way to seek other advice, when you so kindly came to my assistance. You must excuse my hasty departure; but time was precious, and I little suspected you were to prove the rescuer.

"That is a strange move," she remarked dubiously.

"You must be checkmated in a few moves."

"On the contrary," said I, "whatever reply is made, I am in position to force mate within four moves."

"How do you reply to that?" said she, capturing my queen, and giving check.

My unexpected reply to her move crowded her game, and led to the predicted mate.

"Magnificent!" exclaimed Reva with sparkling eyes.

"Yet, though the most obvious, there are other moves."

I soon satisfied her that the move referred to was the best as well as the most obvious. The moves duly noted, the conversation was diverted into other channels. Though rarely joining in the conversation,—it was, indeed, seldom safe for me so to do,—I was an excellent listener,—a qualification that experience has taught me is, by no means, the least adapted for securing good will to its possessor. This habit of mine, adopted at this time, though sorely against my will (how often has a question, trembling on my tongue, been kept back, solely from the fear of exciting surprise!),—this enforced taciturnity of mine gained for me a most undue reputation for wisdom. My brief and cautiously worded replies were listened to with a respect that to me bordered on the ludicrous.

The conversation on this occasion was presently interrupted by the return of the children from school. They