The Royal Game.

Otago Witness, Issue 2356, 20 April 1899, Page 48

The Royal Game.

By J. J. David. (Translated from the German.) (Continued.)

When he took off his hat at the tavern, according to careful, tidy habit, he smoothed it witE the sleeve of his coat. It struck me then for the first time that there was crape round it. We were sitting opposite each other, for I liked to see that head full in front of me. It looked as if forged by intense thought-labour, but care had grooved deep runes in that powerful brow with its strong and haxighty frontal arches. To all his self-possession and gentle-man-like bearing there was added a certain weakness of will power shown round the mouth and very short chin. After supper he willingly gave demonstrations of his skill (he had for that purpose a portable pocket board, with pretty little ivory plates as chess men. It had been presented to him in New York). Or he brought out of a very voluminous bulky pocket "book, such as with tradesmen might permit a conclusion as to their good circumstances, newspaper cuttings containing his likeness or discussions about his performances, with letters to him from famous masters. He considered himself absolutely an artist. Or he related clearly, logically, and vivaciously without looking at anything. He became angry only when he came to speak of the small regard for his art in our city. Or of the conduct of that archmillionaire who liked to pose as a patron of chess. ( " It is so difficult to make a living by chess." Once he had measured himself against that rich man. "I do not desire to do so again.' It lasted late into the night before he won the one florm, ior his opponent was fearfully strong and inconsiderate. It was a night of pouring rain and storm, and he was then living fai out at Wahring. "Of course the millionaire's carriage was waiting below. JDo you think he said, 'How will you get home with such weather, Adolfi, when now there us not a single tramcar going?' Oi, 'Adolfi, have you had anything to eat to-night?' He drives to the Jockey Club and does not mind losing a fortune to a prince. There he said nothing. But my florin made him feel ill, the patron!"

After a short time together we used to part. He went to his business, and I my lonely ways. This evening, however, we remained sitting together. Like one who was feeling severe pain, he held his head drawn between his shoulders. The corners of the mouth were distorted, and about tho temples flashed frequent twitches. He spoke very much with a- painful ill humour, without ending the sentences, and with irregular and wide transitions of thought. He rummaged much among his papers, and showed me now one, now another of those scraps, which he guarded as precious treasures. Something must have happened to him, or something had arisen in his soul and brought it intc restless agitation, like the giant fish of the legend that lets itself rise out of the ocean, and which out of tho unfathomable deep struggles upward towards the sun. In this purposeless and aimless talk occurred sad and painful intervals of silence, during which ho formed strange positions on the boaTd m order to contemplate them as lost. ♦'■ How old do you think I am?" he began after such a' quarter of an hour of silence and depression. I reflected. " I think over 50." He smiled bitterly: "About 10 years less! About 10 years less!" replied he; "and yet people talk of our easy life!" "Yes! How came you into the business?" It was evident he wanted to make some disclosure, and I did not withdraw myself from it. " How does one usually get into any kind of business? From inclination, and because nothing else on God's earth is left for him."

He diank up, and with his thin, trembling fingers rolled a cigarette, andy without thinking what he did, smoked. Then, after a few draws, he threw it hastily away, ordered another glas3 and began:

"I am not a Viennese. I am a Eoumanian, from Jassy, but I no longer live there. Fifteen years or upwards I have been in Vienna. Naturally with interruptions. You are aware when and how long I have already been away." "My parents were very well off. Truly, as is always the case down there, with many children, because people are content to have as many us they can bring up, so that not much is thought about one. I was very fond of study. I have a, very good head, particularly for languages, which I taught myself. I was very fond of reading. But I could not go on with my studies. I was very often ill and very weak, and was obliged to be much in. bed. Then I had with me what I delighted in — namely, my grammars and my books. " My father was very fond of me, fonder than of my brothers and sisters, and admired my abilities greatly. He liked to play chess, and in Jassy no one surpassed him. He taught me, alsc, the game, and I soon got such a good hold of it that he could not win a game from me. At such ability in a child' he was much surprised, and he spread the fame of my doings over the whole city. Thus others came to me and tried. But none of them could come up to me, young as I was. So when I was alone and read nothing, I played the game by myself, and thought out positions or studied pretty games. There is nothing in the world, sir, that is bettei for contenting the mind. And my father merely always sighed to think what a talent I would have had for business had I only enjoyed good health! And what distress there was over my ill-health! And when he asked me about anything, and I thought it out for myself, I could consider it with such care that it was to be right and the advice worth money. So I was very idle. And on account of that,* and because there was much wealth in the family, I have never been able to stoop and beg like others, and as people demand from us. Over the board all are equals, afterwards we are all beggars, and are treated accordingly."

"Very true,' 1 said. "But it is not easily understood."

" Formerly,"- he continued, "I did* not know anything of such things. I had a delightful life, and my nursing — no prince had better — quite restored my health. Truly it was always ' Take care of yourself, Adolf,' and ' You must not do that, my child, it might do you harm ' ; so that one would have thought there was nothing of greater consequence m the world than that one should live. Then my father took me into business, and I worked under him, and all went well. Only I had always a feeling of which I could never get rid. I could not bear noiso or crowding, because I had been acciistomed for so many years to quietude. I easily lost my head, and because over my chess men I wished carefully to think out all possibilities, I was slow, and fell into dangers' and mishaps such as no man could - have guessed. It was very useful so long as I had my father to warn and instruct me. When still very young, I married my cousin, a pretty girl, who had a good property, and we lived very peacefully and happily together. For I was a quiet man, and entirely free from passion. I did not any longei play chess. It was too much of a strain when I had been occupied the whole day — the head occupied with business, the heart with tub wife and children. God gave us foui children, first three boys, afterwards a girl, and I was very happj and thankful for them.

"My father died. Now, for the first time, I gained an insight into tin. business, and was frightened at it. Here was money lying out, and there was money lying out, and I did not know how it could be got in. I desired to entirelj wind up the business. We had from interest quite sufficient to live on, and could lay by something for the children, since, down there, everything was cheap and only, sold

-dear. This my poor wife resisted -with all her might, saying that it was without . precedent^ and called to heaven against a man of 30 setting himself behind the stove for the rest of his life and praising "God. I unfortunately gave ■way, as usual, although I knew well I was right, and that others would lead me into misfortune. But my heart sank when to-day I had to take away a lOOOfr note, and perhaps after a week another. And I found it more and more difficult to form a resolution. I well knew that was the time to make money, but I was afraid of every risk, because bo much already was lost, and I wanted to go safely, and always arrived when it was too late. And people noticed this, and whispered behind my back, ' Adolfi has a heavy hand.' Thus I came to have no self-reliance, seeing that without having heard such remarks I already doubted and hesitated."

(To he continued.)