"Yes, those kings," boasted the postmaster, proud of his achievement. "We beat every one of those kings!"
"What!" began Chevalier Galban. "You beat kings? Upon my word! A thorough republican movement!"
The postmaster's interest in the game was so sensibly diminished by this speech that he proposed adjourning, and the exciting game came to an end.
Pushkin accompanied his guests to their sledges, then returned to Chevalier Galban.
"Well, how did your game go with my little one?"
"I was thoroughly thrashed. She played with me like a cat with a mouse. From whom did she learn to play such a capital game?"
"What, chess? Our dear Sophie Narishkin was her teacher. They used to play together every day."
But that was not the case. It was not Sophie, but Zeneida, who had taught the "little one" this game. This time it had been the mouse playing with the cat to her heart's content.