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Galanos gown which left one shoulder bare。 Her eyes seemed tremendous in her pale face。
Pietr Negulesco looked her over carefully。 〃Have you won all the national tournaments you have played in？〃 he asked。
〃Yes；〃 Tracy replied truthfully。
He shrugged。 〃I have never heard of you。〃
Boris Melnikov was equally rude。 〃You Americans do not know what to do with your money；〃 he said。 〃I wish to thank you in advance。 My winnings will make my family very happy。〃
Tracy's eyes were green jade。 〃You haven't won； yet； Mr。 Melnikov。〃
Melnikov's laugh boomed out through the room。 〃My dear lady； I don't know who you are； but I know who I am。 I am the great Boris Melnikov。〃
It was 10：00。 Jeff looked around and saw that both salons had filled up with spectators。 〃It's time for the match to start。〃
Tracy sat down across the table from Melnikov and wondered for the hundredth time how she had gotten herself into this。
〃There's nothing to it；〃 Jeff had assured her。 〃Trust me。〃
And like a fool she had trusted him。 I must have been out of my mind； Tracy thought。 She was playing the two greatest chess players in the world； and she knew nothing about the same； except what Jeff had spent four hours teaching her。
The big moment had arrived。 Tracy felt her legs trembling。 Melnikov turned to the expectant crowd and grinned。 He made a hissing noise at a steward。 〃Bring me a brandy。 Napoleon。〃
〃In order to be fair to everyone；〃 Jeff had said to Melnikov； 〃I suggest that you play the white so that you go first； and in the game with Mr。 Negulesco； Miss Whitney will play the white and she will go first。〃
Both grand masters agreed。
While the audience stood hushed； Boris Melnikov reached across the board and played the queen's gambit decline opening； moving his queen pawn two squares。 I'm not simply going to beat this woman。 I'm going to crush her。
He glanced up at Tracy。 She studied the board； nodded； and stood up； without moving a piece。 A steward cleared the way through the crowd as Tracy walked into the second salon； where Pietr Negulesco was seated at a table waiting for her。 There were at least a hundred people crowding the room as Tracy took her seat opposite Negulesco。
〃Ah； my little pigeon。 Have you defeated Boris yet？〃 Pietr Negulesco laughed uproariously at his joke。
〃I'm working on it； Mr。 Negulesco；〃 Tracy said quietly。
She reached forward and moved her white queen's pawn two squares。 Negulesco looked up at her and grinned。 He had arranged for a massage in one hour； but he planned to finish this game before then。 He reached down and moved his black queen's pawn two squares。 Tracy studied the board a moment； then rose。 The steward escorted her back to Boris Melnikov。
Tracy sat down at the table and moved her black queen's pawn two squares。 In the background she saw Jeffs almost imperceptible nod of approval。
Without hesitation； Boris Melnikov moved his white queen's bishop pawn two squares。
Two minutes later； at Negulesco's table； Tracy moved her white queen's bishop two squares。
Negulesco played his king's pawn square。
Tracy rose and returned to the room where Boris Melnikov was waiting。 Tracy played her king's pawn square。
So！ She is not a plete amateur； Melnikov thought in surprise。 Let us see what she does with this。 He played his queen's knight to queen's bishop 3。
Tracy watched his move； nodded； and returned to Negulesco； where she copied Melnikov's move。
Negulesco moved the queen's bishop pawn two squares； and Tracy went back to Melnikov and repeated Negulesco's move。
With growing astonishment； the two grand masters realized they were up against a brilliant opponent。 No matter how clever their moves； this amateur managed to counteract them。
Because they were separated； Boris Melnikov and Pietr Negulesco had no idea that； in effect； they were playing against each other。 Every move that Melnikov made with Tracy； Tracy repeated with Negulesco。 And when Negulesco countered with a move； Tracy used that move against Melnikov。
By the time the grand masters entered the middle game； they were no longer smug。 They were fighting for their reputations。 They paced the floor while they contemplated moves and puffed furiously on cigarettes。 Tracy appeared to be the only calm one。
In the beginning； in order to end the game quickly； Melnikov had tried a knight's sacrifice to allow his white bishop to put pressure on the black king's side。 Tracy had carried the move to Negulesco。 Negulesco had examined the move carefully； then refuted the sacrifice by covering his exposed side； and when Negulesco had sacked a bishop to advance a rook to white's seventh rank； Melnikov had refuted it before the black rook could damage his pawn structure。
There was no stopping Tracy。 The game had been going on for four hours； and not one person in either audience had stirred。
Every grand master carries in his head hundreds of games played by other grand masters。 It was as this particular match was going into the end game that both Melnikov and Negulesco recognized the hallmark of the other。
The bitch； Melnikov thought。 She has studied with Negulesco。 He has tutored her。
And Negulesco thought； She is Melnikov's protegee。 The bastard has taught her his game。
The harder they fought Tracy； the more they came to realize there was simply no way they could beat her。 The match was appearing drawish。
In the sixth hour of play； at 4：00 A。M。； when the players had reached the end game； the pieces on each board had been reduced to three pawns； one rook； and a king。 There was no way for either side to win。 Melnikov studied the board for a long time； then took a deep； choked breath and said； 〃I offer a draw。〃
Over the hubbub； Tracy said； 〃I accept。〃
The crowd went wild。
Tracy rose and made her way through the crowd into the next room。 As she started to take her seat； Neguleseo； in a strangled voice said； 〃I offer a draw。〃
And the uproar from the other room was repeated。 The crowd could not believe what it had just witnessed。 A woman had e out of nowhere to simultaneously stalemate the two greatest chess masters in the world。
Jeff appeared at Tracy's side。 〃e on；〃 he grinned。 〃We both need a drink。〃
When they left； Boris Melnikov and Pietr Negulesco were sill slumped in their chairs； mindlessly staring at their boards。
**********
Tracy and Jeff sat at a table for two in the Upper Deck bar。 〃You were beautiful；〃 Jeff laughed。 〃Did you notice the look on Melnikov's face？ I thought he was going to have a heart attack。〃
〃I thought I was going to have a heart attack；〃 Tracy said。 〃How much did we win？〃
〃About two hundred thousand dollars。 We'll collect it from the purser in the morning when we dock at Southampton。 I'll meet you for breakfast in the dining room。〃
〃Fine。〃
〃I think I'll turn in now。 Let me walk you to your stateroom。〃
〃I'm not ready to go to bed yet； Jeff。 I'm too excited。 You go ahead。〃
〃You were a champion；〃 Jeff told her。 He leaned over and kissed her