"I take thy knight," he said, "it ruins thee."
Conrad laughed, he did not take the game so seriously.
"I will visit Carrara," he said, rising, "and go the rounds."
"Thou wilt finish the game," said Vincenzo angrily. "Does it pall the moment thou failest to win?"
"My faith, I fail when it palls. But doubtless thou wilt win yet, if thou dost not grow too hot," and Conrad fanned the boy with the points of his sleeves.
Vincenzo's lustrous eyes flashed.
"Doubtless I shall, Count," he drew from his finger an emerald ring, "and I will stake this on it."
He dropped it on the table with a rattle, and Conrad was animated at once.
"And I this," he cried, "my forfeit if the game is not mine in four moves!"