As soon as the officer had gone the men grouped around the two players. It was to be an interesting game. The elder ladies meanwhile had surrounded the curate, to talk with him of the things of religion; but Brother Salvi seemed to judge the time unfitting and made but vague replies, his rather irritated glance being directed almost everywhere except toward his questioners.
The chess players began with much solemnity.
“If the game is a tie, the affair is forgotten!” said Ibarra.
In the midst of the play he received a despatch. His eyes shone and he became pale, but he put the message in his pocket without opening it.
“Check!” he cried. Captain Basilio had no recourse but to hide his king behind the queen.
“Check!” said Ibarra, threatening with his castle.
Captain Basilio asked a moment to reflect.
“Willingly,” said Ibarra; “I, too, should like a moment,” and excusing himself he went toward the group round the “Wheel of Fortune.”
Iday had the disc on which were the forty-eight questions, Albino the book of replies.
“Ask something,” they all cried to Ibarra, as he came up. “The one who has the best answer is to receive a present from the others.”