Ход королевы
Chapter 5
Wheatley,clappingherhandsenthusiastically.
Goingbacktotheroom,Mrs.WheatleycarriedtheheavytrophyandBethhadthecheckinherblousepocket.Mrs.WheatleyhadwrittenitalloutonasheetofhotelstationerythatsatontopoftheTV:sixty-sixdollarsforthreedaysattheGibson,plusthree-thirtytax;twenty-threesixtyforthebus,andthepriceofeachmeal,includingtip.“I’veallowedtwelvedollarsforourcelebrationsuppertonightandtwodollarsforasmallbreakfasttomorrow.Thatmakesourtotalexpensesequaloneseventy-twothirty.”
“Itleavesoverthreehundreddollars,”Bethsaid.
Therewasasilenceforawhile.Bethlookedatthesheetofpaper,althoughsheunderstooditperfectlywell.ShewaswonderingifsheshouldoffertosplitthemoneywithMrs.Wheatley.Shedidnotwanttodothat.Shehadwonitherself.
Mrs.Wheatleybrokethesilence.“Perhapsyoucouldgivemetenpercent,”shesaidpleasantly.“Asanagent’scommission.”
“Thirty-twodollars,”Bethsaid,“andseventy-sevencents.”
“TheytoldmeatMethuenthatyouweremarvelousatmath.”
Bethnodded.“Okay,”shesaid.
***
TheyhadsomethingwithvealinitatanItalianrestaurant.Mrs.WheatleyorderedherselfacarafeofredwineanddrankitandsmokedChesterfieldsthroughoutthemeal.Bethlikedthebreadandthecold,palebutter.Shelikedthelittletreewithorangesonitthatsatonthebar,notfarfromtheirtable.
Mrs.Wheatleywipedherchinwithhernapkinwhenshefinishedthewineandlitafinalcigarette.
