Page:The Diothas, or, A far look ahead (IA diothasorfarlook01macn).pdf/285

 your locks to their usual fashion. I feel sure I could then play a good game." This I said as calmly and deliberately as if nothing more were in question than altering the position of a picture or statuette. I was also fully aware, that, in thus affording her an excuse for relieving her locks from a bondage I suspected to be irksome, I should be really doing her a great pleasure. The correctness of my surmise was proved by the slight demur with which she acceded to a demand apparently so unreasonable.

I watched her,—it seemed a physical impossibility, indeed, for me to keep my eyes from following her,—I watched her lean over Ialma, who sat at the other end of the apartment, and whisper some inquiry or request. Ialma's countenance at first expressed genuine concern, but brightened up immediately after some explanation had been given. With some laughing remark, she rose, and followed Reva. During their short absence I had time to reflect on the course it behooved me to pursue. This next game I must win, if possible, or perhaps lose ground not easy to recover.

When, therefore, Reva returned, I sat down before my bewitching antagonist, as wary and collected, as resolved on victory by any fair means, as ever I had before a veteran of the Philidor. The move was mine. I was able, therefore, to avail myself of an opening long disused, but abounding with pitfalls for the unwary. In spite of a spirited, even brilliant, defence on Reva's part, I was in position at the twenty-third move to announce a forced mate in two more moves.

"I see plainly you are my master in chess," was her