Boris Melnikov choked on his drink. "What! That's - that's ridiculous! Play two of us at the same time? This - this female amateur?"
"That's right. For ten thousand dollars each."
"I should do it just to teach the stupid idiot a lesson."
"If you win, the money will be deposited in any country you choose."
A covetous expression flitted across the Russian's face. "I've never even heard of this person. And to play the two of us! My God, she must be insane."
"She has the twenty thousand dollars in cash."
"What nationality is she?"
"American."
"Ah, that explains it. All rich Americans are crazy, especially their women."
Jeff started to rise. "Well, I guess she'll just have to play Pietr Negulesco alone."
"Negulesco is going to play her?"
"Yes, didn't I tell you? She wanted to play the two of you, but if you're afraid..."
"Afraid! Boris Melnikov afraid?" His voice was a roar. "I will destroy her. When is this ridiculous match to take place?"
"She thought perhaps Friday night. The last night out."
Boris Meinikov was thinking hard. "The best two out of three?"
"No. Only one game."
"For ten thousand dollars?"
"That is correct."
The Russian sighed. "I do not have that much cash with me."
"No problem," Jeff assured him. "All Miss Whitney really wants is the glory of playing the great Boris Melnikov. If you lose, you give her a personally autographed picture. If you win, you get ten thousand dollars."
"Who holds the stakes?" There was a sharp note of suspicion in his voice.
"The ship's purser."
"Very well," Melnikov decided. "Friday night We will start at ten o'clock, promptly."
"She'll be so pleased," Jeff assured him.
The following morning Jeff was talking to Pietr Negulesco in the gymnasium, where the two men were working out.
"She's an American?" Pietr Negulesco said. "I should have known. All Americans are cuckoo."
"She's a great chess player.."
Pietr Negulesco made a gesture of contempt. "Great is not good enough. Best is what counts. And I am the best."
"That's why she's so eager to play against you. If you lose, you give her an autographed picture. If you win, you get ten thousand dollars in cash..."
"Negulesco does not play amateurs."
"...deposited in any country you like."
"Out of the question."
"Well, then, I guess she'll have to play only Boris Melnikov."
"What? Are you saying Melnikov has agreed to play against this woman?"
"Of course. But she was hoping to play you both at once."
"I've never heard of anything so - so - " Negutesco sputtered, at a loss for words. "The arrogance! Who is she that she thinks she can defeat the two top chess masters in the world? She must have escaped from some lunatic asylum."
"She's a little erratic," Jeff confessed, "but her money is good. All cash."
"You said ten thousand dollars for defeating her?"
"That's right."
"And Boris Meinikov gets the same amount?"
"If he defeats her."
Pietr Negulesco grinned. "Oh, he will defeat her. And so will I."
"Just between us, I wouldn't be a bit surprised."
"Who will hold the stakes?"
"The ship's purser."
Why should Melnikov be the only one to take money from this woman? thought Pietr Negutesco.
"My friend, you have a deal. Where and when?"
"Friday night. Ten o'clock. The Queen's Room."
Pietr Negulesco smiled wolfishly. "I will be there."
"You mean they agreed?" Tracy cried.
"That's right."
"I'm going to be sick."
"I'll get you a cold towel."
Jeff hurried into the bathroom of Tracy's suite, ran cold water on a towel, and brought it back to her. She was lying on the chaise longue. He placed the towel on her forehead. "How does that feel?"
"Terrible. I think I have a migraine."
"Have you ever had a migraine before?"
"No."
"Then you don't have one now. Listen to me, Tracy, it's perfectly natural to be nervous before something like this."
She leapt up and flung down the towel. "Something like this? There's never been anything like this! I'm playing two international master chess players with one chess lesson from you and - "
"Two," Jeff corrected her. "You have a natural talent for chess."
"My God, why did I ever let you talk me into this?"
"Because we're going to make a lot of money."
"I don't want to make a lot of money," Tracy wailed. "I want this boat to sink. Why couldn't this be the Titanic?"
"Now, just stay calm," Jeff said soothingly. "It's going to be - "
"It's going to be a disaster! Everyone on this ship is going to be watching."
"That's exactly the point, isn't it?" Jeff beamed.
Jeff had made all the arrangements with the ship's purser. He had given the purser the stakes to hold - $20,000 in traveler's checks - and asked him to set up two chess tables for Friday evening. The word spread rapidly throughout the ship, and passengers kept approaching Jeff to ask if the matches were actually going to take place.
"Absolutely," Jeff assured all who inquired. "It's incredible. Poor Miss Whitney believes she can win. In fact, she's betting on it."