ALEXIS. Ah, you can’t question my judgment, eh? But you think! I saw something behind your eyes just now when you said you would check-mate me in five moves. You were thinking, “Alexis Alexandrovitch, for all his fine talk, is not what he used to be. Something has slipped away from him.” Do you think I’ve become a coward?
CONSTANTINE. Your excellency!
ALEXIS. I sometimes think so, myself; that sometime there will be no flash, that I shall be check-mated once and for all. That’s why I keep you here, hour after hour, playing chess with me; that’s why I am tempted to try another kind of game with this man, Shamrayeff.
CONSTANTINE. Then you have a definite reason for seeing this man?
ALEXIS. None that you would understand.
CONSTANTINE. But, in that case, might I point out to your excellency—Surely it would be safer—
ALEXIS. Don’t speak to me as if you were speaking to a child. I know what you think: “Alexis Alexandrovitch is not what he was. Things are slipping past him, he needs watching.” Well, the time is up. You have your orders.
CONSTANTINE. Shall I take away the chessmen?
ALEXIS. No, leave them as they are. We’ll finish the game when I ring for you. [CONSTANTINE rises and hesitates.] Well, well, well! You’re going to say something. You think the game won’t be finished. We’ll see. We’ll see about that!
CONSTANTINE. I beg your excellency—