Ход королевы

           Therewereheavymaroondraperiesatthetallwindows,andthechairswereupholsteredinmaroonvelvettrimmedwithgold.Itwasnine-thirtyinthemorningandthesummerdayoutsidewassplendid,butthedraperieshereweretightlyclosed.TheOrientalcarpetonthefloorlookedasifithadcomefromamuseum.Thewallswerepaneledinrosewood.

           Anescortoftwowomenhadbroughtherherefromthehotel;shehadshakenhandswiththeotherplayers,andtheyhadbeenseatedlikethisforahalfhour.Inherhuge,strangehotelroomthenightbeforeawatertapwasdrippingsomewhere,andshehadbarelyslept.Shehadbeendressedinherexpensivenavy-bluetailoreddresssinceseven-thirty,andshecouldfeelherselfperspiring;hernylonsencasedherlegsinawarmgrip.Shecouldhardlyhavefeltmoreoutofplace.Everytimesheglancedatthemenaroundher,theysmiledfaintly.Shefeltlikeachildatanadultsocialfunction.Herheadached.Shewouldhavetoaskthedirectorforaspirin.

           Andthenquitesuddenlythedirectorfinishedhisspeech,andthemenstoodup.Bethjumpedtoherfeet,rattlinghercuponitssaucer.Thewaiterinawhitecossackblousewhohadservedtheteacamerunninguptotakeitfromher.Borgov,whohadignoredherexceptforaperfunctoryhandshakeatthebeginning,ignoredhernowashecrossedinfrontofherandwalkedoutthedoorthedirectorhadopened.Theothersfollowed,withBethbehindShapkinandinfrontofHellström.Astheyfiledoutthedoorintoacarpetedhallway,Luchenkostoppedforamomentandturnedtoher.“I’mdelightedyouarehere,”hesaid.