"Very glad to wait until you can get back," said Jack.
"That's nice of you. But I'm mighty sorry, I've been called out of town."
As on a former occasion Jack's recollection was vaguely stirred by something familiar in the man's voice. He supposed that this was the man who had appeared as Comrade Wilde the night before, but as Wilde had not spoken aloud within Jack's hearing, it must have been on some other occasion he had heard this voice. But he could not place it.
When the exchange of ironical civilities began to pall, Jack asked politely: "What can I do for you, Mr. B.?"
"I just wanted a little chat with you. I wanted to congratulate you on your game."
"Thanks!"
"It's been a mighty interesting game that you and I have been playing the last few weeks; a sort of chess game with human pawns, eh?"
"That's right."
"Well, you've won. You have checkmated me."
"Do you mind telling me what you mean by that exactly?"