The youth made no reply; he was gazing eagerly along the chestnut-bordered path, sorely impatient for Francisco's return.
"Canst thou play chess?" asked Conrad suddenly.
Tomaso looked around at him in surprise. Did the German noble jest?
Von Schulembourg was again seated on the table, admiring his shapely hand, which he held against the light.
"Play chess?" repeated Tomaso. "No, my lord."
Count Conrad crossed his legs daintily and sighed.
"It were a splendid chance to teach thee—had we but the men. Thou hast read old romance, boy? And must remember how the knights and ladies play at chess? 'Tis a royal game."
He sighed again, and glanced with disdain down at his leather doublet.
"Yet 'twere strange to play chess in this garb," he added, and kicked the table with his heels in discontent.
Silence again fell, Tomaso still at the door, unheeding of the Count's complaints, watching anxiously through the gathering dusk.