ss.iftomorrowcomes-第40部分

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　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。
　
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　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　lightly　on　the　cheek。　〃Good　night；　Tracy。〃
　
　〃Good　night；　Jeff。〃
　
　She　watched　him　leave。　Go　to　sleep？　Impossible！　It　had　been　one　of　the　most　fantastic　nights　of　her　life。　The　Russian　and　the　Romanian　had　been　so　sure　of　themselves；　so　arrogant。　Jeff　had　said；　〃Trust　me；〃　and　she　had。　She　had　no　illusions　about　what　he　was。　He　was　a　con　artist。　He　was　bright　and　amusing　and　clever；　easy　to　be　with。　But　of　course　she　could　never　be　seriously　interested　in　him。
　
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　Jeff　was　on　the　way　to　his　stateroom　when　he　encountered　one　of　the　ship's　officers。
　
　〃Good　show；　Mr。　Stevens。　The　word　about　the　match　has　already　gone　out　over　the　wireless。　I　imagine　the　press　will　be　meeting　you　both　at　Southampton。　Are　you　Miss　Whitney's　manager？〃
　
　〃No；　we're　just　shipboard　acquaintances；〃　Jeff　said　easily；　but　his　mind　was　racing。　If　he　and　Tracy　were　linked　together；　it　would　look　like　a　setup。　There　could　even　be　an　investigation。　He　decided　to　collect　the　money　before　any　suspicions　were　aroused。
　
　Jeff　wrote　a　note　to　Tracy。　HAVE　PICKED　UP　MONEY　AND　WILL　MEET　YOU　FOR　A　CELEBRATION　BREAKFAST　AT　THE　SAVOY　HOTEL。　YOU　WERE　MAGNIFICENT。　JEFF。　He　sealed　it　in　an　envelope　and　handed　it　to　a　steward。　〃Please　see　that　Miss　Whitney　gets　this　first　thing　in　the　morning。〃
　
　〃Yes；　Sir。〃
　
　Jeff　headed　for　the　purser's　office。
　
　〃Sorry　to　bother　you；〃　Jeff　apologized；　〃but　we'll　be　docking　in　a　few　hours；　and　I　know　how　busy　you're　going　to　be；　so　I　wondered　whether　you'd　mind　paying　me　off　now？〃
　
　〃No　trouble　at　all；〃　the　purser　smiled。　〃Your　young　lady　is　really　wizard；　isn't　she？〃
　
　〃She　certainly　is。〃
　
　〃If　you　don't　mind　my　asking；　Mr。　Stevens；　where　in　the　world　did　she　learn　to　play　chess　like　that？〃
　
　Jeff　leaned　close　and　confided；　〃I　heard　she　studied　with　Bobby　Fischer。〃
　
　The　purser　took　two　large　manila　envelopes　out　of　the　safe。　〃This　is　a　lot　of　cash　to　carry　around。　Would　you　like　me　to　give　you　a　check　for　this　amount？〃
　
　〃No；　don't　bother。　The　cash　will　be　fine；〃　Jeff　assured　him。　〃I　wonder　if　you　could　do　me　a　favor？　The　mail　boat　es　out　to　meet　the　ship　before　it　docks；　doesn't　it？〃
　
　〃Yes；　Sir。　We're　expecting　it　at　six　A。M。〃
　
　〃I'd　appreciate　it　if　you　could　arrange　for　me　to　leave　on　the　mail　boat。　My　mother　is　seriously　ill；　and　I'd　like　to　get　to　her　before　it's〃…　his　voice　dropped…　〃before　it's　too　late。〃
　
　〃Oh；　I'm　dreadfully　sorry；　Mr。　Stevens。　Of　course　I　can　handle　that　for　you。　I'll　make　the　arrangements　with　customs。〃
　
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　At　6：15　A。M。　Jeff　Stevens；　with　the　two　envelopes　carefully　stashed　away　in　his　suitcase；　climbed　down　the　ship's　ladder　into　the　mail　boat。　He　turned　to　take　one　last　look　at　the　outline　of　the　huge　ship　towering　above　him。　The　passengers　on　the　liner　were　sound　asleep。　Jeff　would　be　on　the　dock　long　before　the　QE　II　landed。　〃It　was　a　beautiful　voyage；〃　Jeff　said　to　one　of　the　crewmen　on　the　mail　boat。
　
　〃Yes；　it　was；　wasn't　it？〃　a　voice　agreed。
　
　Jeff　turned　around。　Tracy　was　seated　on　a　coil　of　rope；　her　hair　blowing　softly　around　her　face。
　
　〃Tracy！　What　are　you　doing　here？〃
　
　〃What　do　you　think　I'm　doing？〃
　
　He　saw　the　expression　on　her　face。　〃Wait　a　minute！　You　didn't　think　I　was　going　to　run　out　on　you？〃
　
　〃Why　would　I　think　that？〃　Her　tone　was　bitter。
　
　〃Tracy；　I　left　a　note　for　you。　I　was　going　to　meet　you　at　the　Savoy　and…〃
　
　〃Of　course　you　were；〃　she　said　cuttingly。　〃You　never　give　up；　do　you？〃
　
　He　looked　at　her；　and　there　was　nothing　more　for　him　to　say。
　
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　In　Tracy's　suite　at　the　Savoy；　she　watched　carefully　as　Jeff　counted　out　the　money。　〃Your　share　es　to　one　hundred　and　one　thousand　dollars。〃
　
　〃Thank　you。〃　Her　tone　was　icy。
　
　Jeff　said；　〃You　know；　you're　wrong　about　me；　Tracy。　I　wish　you'd　give　me　a　chance　to　explain。　Will　you　have　dinner　with　me　tonight？〃
　
　She　hesitated；　then　nodded。　〃All　right。〃
　
　〃Good。　I'll　pick　you　up　at　eight　o'clock。〃
　
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　When　Jeff　Stevens　arrived　at　the　hotel　that　evening　and　asked　for　Tracy；　the　room　clerk　said；　〃I'm　sorry；　sir。　Miss　Whitney　checked　out　early　this　afternoon。　She　left　no　forwarding　address。〃
　
　
　
　BOOK　THREE
　Chapter　21
　
　
　
　It　was　the　handwritten　invitation。　Tracy　decided　later；　that　changed　her　life。
　
　After；　collecting　her　share　of　the　money　from　Jeff　Stevens；　Tracy　checked　out　of　the　Savoy　and　moved　into　47　Park　Street；　a　quiet；　semiresidential　hotel　with　large；　pleasant　rooms　and　superb　service。
　On　her　second　day　in　London　the　invitation　was　delivered　to　her　suite　by　the　hall　porter。　It　was　written　in　a　fine；　copperplate　handwriting：　〃A　mutual　friend　has　suggested　that　it　might　be　advantageous　for　us　to　bee　acquainted。　Won't　you　join　me　for　tea　at　the　Ritz　this　afternoon　at　4：00？　If　you　will　forgive　the　cliché；　I　will　be　wearing　a　red　carnation。〃　It　was　signed　〃Gunther　Hartog。〃
　
　Tracy　had　never　heard　of　him。　Her　first　inclination　was　to　ignore　the　note；　but　her　curiosity　got　the　better　of　her；　and　at　4：15　she　was　at　the　entrance　of　the　elegant　dining　hall　of　the　Ritz　Hotel。　She　noticed　him　immediately。　He　was　in　his　sixties；　Tracy　guessed；　an　interesting…looking　man　with　a　lean；　intellectual　face。　His　skin　was　smooth　and　clear；　almost　translucent。　He　was　dressed　in　an　expensively　tailored　gray　suit　and　wore　a　red　carnation　in　his　lapel。
　
　As　Tracy　walked　toward　his　table；　he　rose　and　bowed　slightly。　〃Thank　you　for　accepting　my　invitation。〃
　
　He　seated　her　with　an　old…fashioned　gallantry　that　Tracy　found　attractive。　He　seemed　to　belong　to　another　world。　Tracy　could　not　imagine　what　on　earth　he　wanted　with　her。
　
　〃I　came　because　I　was　curious；〃　Tracy　confessed；　〃but　are　you　sure　you　haven't　confused　me　with　some　other　Tracy　Whitney？〃
　
　Gunther　Hartog　smiled。　〃From　what　I　have　heard；　there　is　only　one　Tracy　Whitney。〃
　
　〃What　exactly　have　you　heard？〃
　
　〃Shall　we　discuss　that　over　tea？〃
　
　Tea　consisted　of　finger　sandwiches；　filled　with　chopped　egg；　salmon；　cucumber；　watercress；　and　chicken。　There　were　hot　scones　with　clotted　cream　and　jam；　and　freshly　made　pastries；　acpanied　by　Twinings　tea。　As　they　ate；　they　talked。
　
　〃Your　note　mentioned　a　mutual　friend；〃　Tracy　began。
　
　〃Conrad　Morgan。　I　do　business　with　him　from　time　to　time。〃
　
　I　did　business　with　him　once；　Tracy　thought　grimly。　And　he　tried　to　cheat　me。
　
　〃He's　a　great　admirer　of　yours；〃　Gunther　Hartog　was　saying。
　
　Tracy　looked　at　her　host　more　closely。　He　had　the　bearing　of　an　aristocrat　and　the　look　of　wealth。　What　does　he　want　with　me？　Tracy　wondered　again。　She　decided　to　let　him　pursue　the　subject；　but　there　was　no　further　mention　of　Conrad　Morgan　or　of　what　possible　mutual　benefit　there　could　be　between　Gunther　Hartog　and　Tracy　Whitney。
　
　Tracy　found　the　meeting　enjoyable　and　intriguing。　Gunther　told　her　about　his　background。　〃I　was　born　in　Munich。　My　father　was　a　banker。　He　was　wealthy；　and　I'm　afraid　I　grew　up　rather　spoiled；　surrounded　by　beautiful　paintings　and　antiques。　My　mother　was　Jewish；　and　when　Hitler　came　to　power；　my　father　refused　to　desert　my　mother；　and　so　he　was　stripped　of　everything。　They　were　both　killed　in　the　bombings。　Friends　smuggled　me　out　of　Germany　to　Switzerland；　and　when　the　war　was　over；　I　decided　not　to　return　to　Germany。　I　moved　London　and　opened　a　small　antique　shop　on　Mount　Street。　I　hope　that　you　will　visit　it　one　day。〃
　
　That's　what　this　is　all　about；　Tracy　thought　in　surprise。　He　wants　to　sell　me　something。
　
　As　it　turned　out；　she　was　wrong。
　
　As　Gunther　Hartog　was　paying　the　check；　he　said；　casually；　〃I　have　a　little　country　house　in　Hampshire。　I'm　having　a　few　friends　down　for　the　weekend；　and　I'd　be　delighted　if　you　would　join　us。〃
　
　Tracy　hesitated。　The　man　was　a　plete　stranger；　and　she　still　had　no　idea　what　he　wanted　from　her。　She　decided　she　had　nothing　to　lose。
　
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　The　weekend　turned　o