"I say—that won't do!" cried the boy. "It's mate for me in two moves. Buck up!"
With a great effort, she caught the vanishing tail of her previous calculation and made a move which happened to be correct.
"That's better," he said. "I hoped you wouldn't spot it. But I couldn't let you play the ass with your knight and spoil the game. Now, this demands deep consideration."
He lingered a while over his move. She looked across. The pair at the next bed were talking in whispers. The girl was now sitting on the chair by the bedside, and her back hid the face of the man, though her head was near his.
"There!" cried the boy triumphantly.
"I beg your pardon; I didn't see it."
"Oh, I say!" His finger indicated the move.
With half her brain at work, she moved a pawn a cautious step. The boy's whole heart was in his offensive. He swooped a bishop triumphantly athwart the board.
"There's only one thing can save you for mate in five moves. I know it isn't the proper thing to be chatting over chess, but I like it. I'm chatty by nature."
"Only one course open to save me from destruction?" she murmured.