The Luzhin Defence Page #3

About ten years.

And then chess

became your whole life.

And then there was

the day before yesterday.

Yes.

When we met.

That's it.

The whole thing.

It's amazing.

You have

absolutely no small talk.

Yes.

You answer every question

with "yes" or "no"...

and you haven't asked me

a single one.

You have no flattering observations

to make whatsoever.

Am I not beautiful?

I don't know.

Exciting? Witty?

- Yes. You're...

- No, no, no.

It's fine.

It's welcome.

I like that part of you.

I can...

breathe.

It seems so much a part of you.

His name is Turati.

He's an Italian grand master.

Luzhin's main rival for the crown.

I was wondering if...

It's a perfect afternoon

for the lake.

Yes, it is...

but I've arranged

to meet my mother.

And don't ask her along too. The boat

will become very small indeed then.

I understand.

Mama, wait.

It isn't what you think.

He isn't here yet.

I'd like you to meet

Aleksandr Ivanovich Luzhin.

- I don't understand. Where is...

- Mama.

Aleksandr is a very famous

chess player.

So, why don't you two...

Yes.

How long have you

and my daughter been friends?

We met the day before yesterday.

Your daughter, she...

likes...

cooling beverages.

She enjoyed one earlier on.

There's a nice atmosphere here.

Yes, the hotel...

lake, flowers, footpath.

That's where I was struck.

Not with an arrow.

With a pebble.

I don't know what you mean.

Please, I, I must...

have an audience.

I have the honor...

the honor of begging

for your daughter's hand.

Isn't he amazing?

- Do you really despise me this much?

- I'm sorry?

He wants to...

To trick me into thinking I was

meeting a handsome, well-mannered...

And then that!

If you had listened.

But you ne...

Jean de Stassard

is a very charming man.

I, however, desire

something a little different.

A little different?

You will not see that lunatic again.

I want to send a telegram

to Berlin, urgently.

Ladies and gentlemen,

welcome to the opening ceremony...

of our world chess championship.

Il Signore Salvatore Turati

from Italy...

and Il Signore Aleksandr

Ivanovich Luzhin from Russia...

will each take on 20 players...

invited from our wonderful audience.

I did resist for ten moves against him.

I can tell my grandchildren about that.

Papa?

Natalia.

Oh, Papa, this is Jean de Stassard.

My father.

- How do you do?

- I'm honored, sir.

It's wonderful to see you,

but why have you come so early?

I mustn't intrude. I will leave

you two together. Excuse me.

What's the matter?

Well, he doesn't seem at all like

the dangerous, gloomy character...

your mother described

in her telegram.

She's had me chase her

across the length of Europe.

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