The Argosy — page 82: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Checkmate in Ten Moves. 69 the fact that they have a Napoleon to deal with; and that such a man as the Emperor sees further than they can, and has his plans deeply laid.” M. le Maire was not only a loyal subject of the Emperor, but a zealous imitator of his policy towards Great Britain. During my previous residence at Trois Etoiles he, in the most condescending manner, had set to work to correct my views, both of English opinions and English history. Patronising before, his graciousness had increased threefold since his increase of dignity. There were a few intimate friends, besides this great civic authority, M. Fronsac, to whom Eleanor’s little drawing-room was open in the evening, and who found her English tea-table attractive enough to give them a taste for the beverage. Among these was the kind old Curé, who had known Mariette all her life, and treated her still as a pet child, bringing her chocolate bonbons in his pocket, and letting no one else hand his tea-cup. My own suspicion was that he knew all her secrets, and sympathised with her trouble. Time went on, and history took its course, and with September came Sédan ; when gloom fell on every face, and social cheerfulness was atanend. ‘The attraction of the English newspapers still drew both the Maire and the Curé to our tea-table, but it became an effort of politeness to find topics of conversation. Something was said one evening about chess; and M. le Maire, after a little modest self- depreciation, pleaded guilty to being an intense lover of the game. His greatest trial in life had been that he so rarely found an antagonist with whom it was worth while to play. The Curé was no chess player ; but very keen at backgammon, which he played with Eleanor. M. le Maire talked so long and so dictatorially upon chess, and the impossibility of anyone becoming a player who had not certain mental qualifications, that I was nettled at last into observing that I believed I could puzzle him at the game. Indeed ? He was all smiles and condescension, but might he own to a little incredulity ? As much as he thought proper ; I only maintained the fact. Allow me to place the men, and at a certain stage of the game I would undertake to give him forced checkmate in ten moves. He smiled superior, displaying the palms of his hands as he uttered the authoritative “‘ Impossible !” ‘Tt may be impossible to prove it, M. le Maire, as I cannot rely on my memory; but the thing has been done, and if I can recall the moves, I shall be happy to convince you.” “When your memory, richly stored as it is, will honour me so far, mademoiselle, I shall be proud to be convinced. ‘Till then I must maintain, with profound respect, that the thing is impracticable.” The proof, as I soon found, was not so easily given. I could not trust my memory, and I had forgotten the book where the problem was to be found. Every time I saw the great functionary he had his cConmiclbooolks (SO)