'
'But you have seen people play?'
'I have never seen the playing of a single game. This is the
first time I ever had the opportunity of playing with a living
opponent. I have worked out many games from books, and studied
the reasons of the different moves, but that is all.'
This was a full explanation of his mannerism; but the fact that a
man with the desire for chess should have grown up without being
able to see or engage in a game astonished her not a little. She
pondered on the circumstance for some time, looking into vacancy
and hindering the play.
Mr. Swancourt was sitting with his eyes fixed on the board, but
apparently thinking of other things. Half to himself he said,
pending the move of Elfride:
'"Quae finis aut quod me manet stipendium?"'
Stephen replied instantly:
'"Effare: jussas cum fide poenas luam."'
'Excellent--prompt--gratifying!' said Mr. Swancourt with feeling,
bringing down his hand upon the table, and making three pawns and
a knight dance over their borders by the shaking. 'I was musing
on those words as applicable to a strange course I am steering--
but enough of that. I am delighted with you, Mr. Smith, for it is
so seldom in this desert that I meet with a man who is gentleman
and scholar enough to continue a quotation, however trite it may
be.'
'I also apply the words to myself,' said Stephen quietly.
'You? The last man in the world to do that, I should have
thought.
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