Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Competing with the Master

Now I'm going to start a new life, Tracy thought.But what kind of life is it?I've gone from an innocent victim to a... what?A thief—that's what it is.She thought of Joe Romano and Antoine Wusardy, of Perry Pope and Judge Lawrence.No.an avenger.This is me.Perhaps a female adventurer.She was smarter than the cops, those two professional swindlers, and the jeweler who was smacking around.She thought of Ernestine and Amy and felt a sharp pain in her heart.On an impulse, Tracy went to Schwartz Mall and bought a small puppet show stage, a set of six puppet characters, and mailed it to Amy.The card read: These new friends are for you.Miss you and love you Tracy.

Then she went to a fur store on Madison Avenue and bought a blue fox fur scarf for Ernestine, and sent a money order for two hundred dollars along with it.The card just said: Thanks, Ernie.Tracy. Now all my debts are paid, Tracy thought.It's a comforting feeling.She is free to go wherever she wants and do whatever she wants. To celebrate her independence, she lived in a tower suite in the Hemsley Palace Hotel.Looking down from the living room on the forty-seventh floor, you can see St. Patrick's Cathedral and the Washington Bridge in the distance.And in the other direction, a few miles away, was the depressing place where she had lived not so long ago.Never going in there again, Tracy swore.

She opened the champagne served at the hotel, sat down to sip it, and watched the sun go down over the skyscrapers of Manhattan.By moonrise, Tracy had made up her mind.She is going to London.She waited for life to show her the best things.I've paid off all my debts, Tracy thought.I should enjoy myself. She lay in bed, watching the nightly TV news.Two men are being interviewed.Boris Melnikov was a stocky Russian in an ill-fitting brown suit, while Peter Nikolescu was the opposite, tall and thin and looking handsome.Tracy couldn't think of anything the two of them had in common. "Where will the chess match be held?" the news anchor asked.

"In Suchi, on the beautiful Black Sea," Melnikov replied. "Both of you are international grandmasters, and this game has attracted great attention. You two gentlemen, in previous games, you took turns to win the championship, and the most recent game was tied. Nikolai Mr. Scu, at present Mr. Melnikov occupies the throne of champion, do you think you can regain the crown from him this time?" "Without a doubt!" replied the Romanian. "Absolutely impossible," retorted the Russian. Tracy didn't know anything about chess, but the arrogance shown by these two really displeased her.She pressed the remote control, turned off the TV and went to sleep.

Early on the first day, Tracy went to the travel agency to book a cabin on the signal deck of the Queen Elizabeth 2 passenger ship.Excited like a child traveling abroad for the first time, she spent three full days shopping for clothes and carry-on luggage for herself. On the day of departure, Tracy rented a limousine to drive herself to the pier. "Queen Elizabeth 2" is berthed at Berth 3 at Pier 90 at West 55th Street and 12th Avenue.When Tracy arrived, the pier was crowded with journalists and TV interviewers, and she felt a sudden wave of panic.But after a while, she discovered that they were interviewing two grandmasters, Melnikov and Nicholescu, who had posed and stood at the mouth of the gangway.Tracy brushed past them, showed her passport to an official standing at the gangway, and headed for the boat.On deck, an attendant looked at Tracy's ticket and directed her to her cabin.This is a beautiful suite with its own deck.The room was unreasonably expensive, but Tracy figured it would be worth it, even though it was expensive.

She unpacked her belongings and walked down the corridor.In almost every cabin is a farewell party, talking and laughing accompanied by champagne.She suddenly felt a pang of loneliness.No one came to see her off, she didn't need to care about others, and no one came to care about her.Not really, Tracy thought.Big Bertha wanted me, she laughed aloud at the thought. As she boarded the deck of the lifeboat, she never noticed the approving or jealous glances from the men and women. Tracy heard the muffled sound of the siren, followed by the greeting of "Get ashore quickly", and her heart suddenly became excited.She's sailing into a completely alien future.She felt the ship tremble as the barges started to pull the huge ship slowly out of the harbor.She stood among the crowd of passengers on the deck of the lifeboat and watched the statue of the Statue of Liberty gradually disappear, so she moved and began to look around.

"Queen Elizabeth 2" is like a city. It is more than 900 feet long and has 13 floors from top to bottom.There are four large restaurants, six bars, two dance halls, two nightclubs, and a "Golden Gate Sea Playground" on board.In addition, there are dozens of small shops, four swimming pools, a gym, a golf course and a running track for jogging on board.Maybe, I'll never want to leave this boat, Tracy marveled. She reserved a table upstairs at the Princess Grill, which was smaller than the main dining room but more elegant.She had just taken her seat when she heard a familiar voice: "Hi, hello!"

She looked up, and standing next to her was Tom Bowers, the guy posing as an FBI agent.Oh no.How can I be so unlucky, Tracy thought. "Great, I didn't expect that! I don't mind having dinner with you, do you?" "Very mindful." He squeezed into the chair opposite her and gave her a charming smile. "Maybe we can still be friends. After all, we're here for the same purpose, aren't we?" Tracy really didn't understand what he was talking about. "Well, Mr. Bowers..." "Stevens," he said flatly, "Jeff Stevens." "As you please." Tracy stood up.

"Wait a minute. I want to explain a little bit about our last meeting." "There's nothing to explain," Tracy said firmly. "Even an imbecile would have guessed—already known." "I owe Conrad Morgan a debt of gratitude." He smiled wryly. "I'm afraid he's a little mad at me." He was still so generous, showing a bit of youthful innocence, which was why she was fooled last time.I said Dennis, there is no need to put handcuffs on her, and she can't escape... She said unceremoniously: "I'm angry with you too. What are you doing on this boat? Can't you go on a riverboat?"

he laughed. "Maxmillan Bilbon aboard this boat, and it's a riverboat." "Who?" He looked at her in surprise. "Well, don't you really know?" "what do you know?" "Max Bilbon is one of the richest men in the world. His pastime is crowding out competing companies. He likes slow rides and hot women, and he has plenty of both. Spend a lot of money through the ages Of all the tycoons, he was the last." "And you want to do him a favor and spend some of his excess wealth." "To tell you the truth, it's going to cost quite a fortune." He looked at her thoughtfully. "What do you say you and I should do?"

"Of course I do, Mr. Stevens. We should say goodbye." Still sitting there, he watched Tracy turn and walk out of the restaurant. She ate dinner in her stateroom, wondering what had happened to her, and crossed paths with Jeff Stevens.She tried to forget the fear she had had the last time she thought she was going to be arrested on the train.Ah, I can't let him ruin my trip.Just ignore him. After dinner, Tracy went on deck.What a beautiful night, the black velvet sky is magically studded with stars.She stood by the railing of the deck, watching the waves sparkling under the moonlight, and listening to the sound of the night wind.Suddenly, he came to her side. "You don't know how beautiful you are standing there. Do you believe in affairs on boats or something?" "Of course I do. But you are the one I don't believe in." She turned and walked away. "Wait a minute, I have something to tell you. I just found out that Max Bilbon is not on this boat. He canceled the trip at the last minute." "Oh, what a pity. You wasted a ticket." "Not necessarily." He looked at her thoughtfully. "Would you like to make a small fortune on this trip?" This guy is just unbelievable. "I don't think you'll get away with anyone, unless you've got a submarine or a helicopter in your pocket." "Who said it was going to be robbed? Have you ever heard of Boris Melnikov or Peter Nicholescu?" "So what if I've heard of it?" "Melnikov and Nikolascu are heading to Russia for a championship final. If I can set you up for a set with both of them," Jeff said eagerly, "we'll win a lot of money." Money. It’s a no-brainer.” Tracy looked at him incredulously. "If you can arrange for me to play a game with the two of them? Is that a little effort for you?" "Well. How do you feel?" "Very interested. However, there is a small trouble." "What trouble?" "I can't play chess." He smiled gently. "It doesn't matter. I can teach you." "You're crazy," Tracy said. "If you need any advice, you should see a good psychiatrist. Good night." Early the next morning, Tracy actually bumped into Boris Melnikov.He was running on the deck of the lifeboat, and Tracy bumped into him at a turn, and she staggered, losing her balance. "You don't have long eyes, where have you come?" He roared, and ran away after speaking. Tracy sat on the deck, watching his back. "The rudest in the world!..." She stood up and dusted her clothes. A waiter came forward. "No fall, miss? I saw him..." "It's okay, I'm fine, thank you." No one wants to ruin the trip. By the time Tracy returned to the cabin, Jeff Stevens had called her six times to speak back.She ignored it.In the afternoon, she went swimming, read a book, and went for a massage.Before dinner, she went to the bar to order a cocktail and felt comfortable.But the pleasure didn't last long.Peter Nicholescu, the Romanian, was also sitting at the bar.Seeing Tracy, he got up and said, "May I buy you a drink, pretty lady?" Tracy hesitated, then smiled. "Oh, yes, thank you." "What would you like to drink?" "A vodka and tonic, please." After ordering the bartender, Nicolescu turned to Tracy. "My name is Peter Nicholescu." "I know." "Of course, everyone knows me. I'm the greatest chess master in the world. In my country, I'm a national hero." He leaned closer to Tracy and put his hand on her lap. "I'm still a great man in bed." Tracy thought she had heard wrong. "what?" "The great man on the bed." Her initial reaction was to throw the drink in his face, but she held back. She has a better idea. "I'm sorry," she said, "I have to meet a friend." She went to Jeff Stevens.She found him at the Gongsheng Grill.However, as she walked towards his village, she saw him having dinner with a fair-haired woman who looked very pretty and had a great figure in an evening gown that seemed painted on.Blame me for not knowing earlier, Tracy thought, turning and walking down the corridor.After a while, Jeff appeared beside her. "Tracey... you looking for me?" "I don't want you to leave your...dinner." "She's just a sweet tooth," Jeff said lightly. "What can I do for you?" "Is it true what happened last time about Melnikov and Nikolascu?" "Of course it's true. What's the matter?" "I think both of them need a lesson in manners." "I thought so too. We could make some money by giving them a lesson." "Okay. What are you going to do?" "You will kill them on the chessboard." "I'm telling you the truth." "I mean it." "I already told you, I can't play chess. I can't tell the difference between a pawn and a king. I..." "Don't worry," Jeff assured her, "just teach me a few lessons and I'll make sure you kill them both." "The two of them?" "Oh, I didn't tell you? You're going to play with both of them at the same time." Jeff sat side by side with Boris Melnikov in the piano bar. "This woman is an odd chess player," Jeff confided to Melnikov. "She traveled around incognito." The Russian grunted. "Women don't know how to play chess. They can't think." "But this one's fine. She says she can beat you without breaking a sweat." Melnikov laughed out loud. "Nobody can beat me—let alone blow a punch." "She said she could bet with you and Peter Nicholescu, or at least with one of you. She's willing to bet ten thousand dollars." Boris Melnikov almost choked on his drink. "What! This—this is ridiculous! Playing with both of us at the same time? This—this female amateur chess player?" "Exactly. Bet each of you ten thousand dollars." "I played this game of chess just to teach this idiot a lesson." "If you win, that money will be deposited in whichever bank you choose." A look of greed flitted across the Russian's face. "I've never heard that person's name. Wanting to have sex with both of us! My God, she must be out of her mind." "She had twenty thousand dollars in cash." "Which country is she from?" "American." "Oh, no wonder. All rich Americans are nuts, especially American women." Jeff stood up. "Well, I think she'll have to go down alone with Peter Nicholescu." "Nikolescu going to play with her?" "Yes, didn't I tell you? She wants to have sex with both of you, but if you're afraid..." "Afraid? Boris Melnikov afraid?" His voice was almost a growl. "I'm going to grind her to dust. When is this ridiculous chess game going to take place?" "She thought it would be best Friday night, the last night on board." Boris Melnikov thought hard. "Two out of three games?" "No. Just the next game." "A $10,000 bet?" "good." The Russian sighed. "I don't have that much cash on hand." "It doesn't matter," Jeff assured him, "all Miss Whitney really wants is the honor of playing against you, the great Boris Melnikov. If you lose, you just give her a frame There is a picture of you autographed. If you win, you get ten thousand dollars." "Who keeps the bets?" There was obvious doubt in his voice. "The ship's purser." "That's great!" Melnikov made up his mind. "Friday night, we start on time at ten." "She'll be very happy," Jeff assured him. The first morning, Jeff was in the gym talking to Peter Nicholescu, where the two were working out. "She's an American?" Peter Nicholescu said. "No wonder all Americans are crazy." "She's an amazing chess player." Peter Nicholescu waved his hand contemptuously. "It's not enough to be great, the best counts, and I am the best." "That's why she has to play against you. If you lose, you give her a picture with your autograph. If you win, you get $10,000 in cash..." "I, Nicolescu, never play against amateur players." "...to any bank of your choice." "Absolutely not." "Very well, then, I think she will have to play alone with Boris Melnikov." "What? Melnikov agreed to have sex with this woman?" "Of course. But she wants to play with you both." "I've never heard of such—so..." Nicolescu murmured, not knowing what to say. "It's too presumptuous! Who is she, who dares to claim that she can defeat the two strongest chess masters in the world? She must have just escaped from the madhouse." "She's a little perverted," Jeff admitted, "but she has real money. It's all cash." "You mean you can get $10,000 for beating her?" "right." "Can Boris Melnikov get that number?" "If he beats her." Peter grinned. "Oh, he'll beat her. I'll beat her too." "To tell you the truth, this is what I expected." "Who keeps the stakes?" "The ship's purser." Why can only Melnikov take this woman's money?Peter Nicholescu thought. "My good friend, that's settled. Where? When?" "Friday night. Ten o'clock. Queen's Hall." Peter Nicholescu grinned like a wolf. "I'll go then." "You said they agreed?" Tracy exclaimed. "Not bad." "I'm going to faint." "I'll get you a cool towel." Jeff rushed to the bathroom in Tracy's cabin, grabbed a towel, dipped it in cold water, and ran back. She leaned back on a recliner, and he put the cool towel on her forehead. "How does it feel?" "It sucks. I think I have a migraine." "Have you had migraines in the past?" "No." "Then you're not now. Listen, Tracy, it's only natural to be nervous when things like this happen." She jumped up suddenly and threw the towel away. "Such a thing? There has never been such a thing! I only took one chess lesson from you, and you asked me to play against two international masters, and..." "Two classes." Jeff corrected her. "You have a talent for playing chess." "My God, why did I listen to you and do this?" "Because we can make a lot of money." "I don't want to make a lot of money," Tracy wailed. "I wish this ship would sink. Why isn't this the 'Titanic' wow?" "Okay, please be quiet." Jeff kept reassuring her. "Things will eventually..." "It's going to go all the way! All the people on board will come and see." "That's all it takes, isn't it?" Jeff grinned. Jeff made all the arrangements with the ship's purser.He asked the purser to keep the stakes--twenty thousand dollars in travelers checks--and asked him to have two chess tables ready on Friday night.Word quickly spread throughout the ship, with passengers asking Jeff if the race was really going on. "Absolutely no problem." Jeff vouched for everyone who came to inquire. "It's incredible. Poor Miss Whitney believes she can win. In fact, she's put a bet on it." "I said," one passenger asked, "may I make a small bet, too?" "Of course. Bet as much as you want. Miss Whitney only wants to win one and lose ten." One million wins and one loss is fine.As soon as the first bet was accepted, it was as if the flood gate had been opened. Everyone on board, including the engineers in the engine room, the first and second mates on the bridge, etc., wanted to bet on this game.From as little as five dollars to as much as five thousand dollars, all bets were on the Russians and Romanians. The suspicious purser reported to the captain. "Sir, I've never encountered such a thing in my life. It's completely one-sided. Almost all the passengers have bet. The bet I keep here is two hundred thousand dollars." The captain looked at him, lost in thought. "You say Miss Whitney will play both Melnikov and Nicolescu at the same time?" "Yes, Captain." "Have you ever verified that these two men are really Peter Nikolascu and Boris Melnikov?" "Oh, of course, sir. Without a doubt." "They don't mean to give up on purpose, do they?" "No, just look at how conceited they are. I think they'd rather die first if that's the case. If they really lose to this woman, it's likely they'll do it as soon as they get home." The captain stretched his fingers and combed his hair, with a puzzled look on his face. "Do you know Miss Whitney and this Mr. Stewies?" "Nothing, sir. But as far as I can tell, they're going their separate ways." The captain makes his decision. "This game looks odd, and I'd normally ban it. But I happen to know a thing or two about it myself, and if there's one thing I can vouch for with my life, it's that you can't cheat in chess .Just let the game go." He walked to his desk and took out a black wallet. "Put me five pounds on the masters." At nine o'clock on Friday night, the Queen's Hall was already crowded with first-class passengers, second-class and third-class passengers who sneaked in, as well as off-duty pilots, engineers and sailors on board.At the request of Jeff Stevens, two rooms were vacated for the game.A table was placed in the center of the queen's room, and another table was placed in the adjoining great drawing room.The two rooms are separated by a curtain. "That way the players don't interfere with each other," Jeff explained, "and we want the audience to stop walking around once they've chosen a room." The two chess tables were surrounded by velvet ropes to separate the crowd watching the chess.Viewers are about to see a game they'll never see again.They don't know anything about this beautiful young American, but it's clear that not only is she impossible, but it's also impossible for anyone else to play at the same time as the great Nikolaescu and Melnikov , and equally with each of them. Before the competition, Jeff introduced Tracy to the two grandmasters.Tracy wore a dark green chiffon garano dress with one shoulder bare, like a figure in a Greek painting.Her eyes looked strangely large in her pale face. Peter looked her over carefully. "You've won all the nationals you've played?" he asked. "Yes." Tracy answered honestly. He shrugged. "I've never heard of you." Boris Melnikov was just as rude. "You Americans really don't know what to do with your money," he said. "I should thank you in advance. My victory will make my whole family very happy." Tracy's eyes were like two crystal clear emeralds. "You haven't won yet, Mr. Melnikov." Melnikov's wild laughter echoed throughout the room. "My dear lady, I don't know who you are, but I know who I am. I am the great Boris Melnikov." Ten o'clock sharp.Jeff looked around and saw that both halls were packed with spectators. "It's time to start the game." Tracy, sitting across from Melnikov, was wondering for the hundredth time why she had come to this place. "It'll be fine," Jeff had promised her a long time ago, "Trust me." She believed him like a fool.I must be fainting, Tracy thought.She was playing against two of the best chess players in the world, and she knew nothing about chess except for four hours of learning from Jeff. Success or failure is here.Tracy felt her legs tremble.Melnikov grinned at the hopeful crowd.He whistled to a waiter: "Give me a brandy. Napoleon." "To be fair to everyone," Jeff had said to Melnikov, "I suggest you go white, and in the match against Nicolescu, Miss Whitney will go white. " Both grandmasters agreed. The spectators stand around and fall silent; Boris Melnikov walks to the other end of the board and moves his queen's pawn two squares, a Turkish opening that attempts to win by sacrificial pawns.Not only do I want to defeat this woman, but I want to kill her completely. He looked up at Tracy.She stared at the board for a while, nodded, and stood up without moving a single piece.A waiter pushed Tracey through the crowd of onlookers to another hall, where Peter Nicholescu was sitting at the end of a table waiting for her.There were at least a hundred people in the room when Tracy sat down across from Nicolescu. "Ah, my little pigeon, have you killed Boris?" Peter laughed wildly at his gag. "I'm down now, Mr. Nicolescu," Tracy replied flatly. She leaned over and moved the pawn in front of her white queen two squares.Nicolescu looked at her and grinned.He was scheduled for a massage in an hour, intending to call it quits before then. He leans down and moves the black queen's pawn two squares.Tracy looked at the board and stood up. The waiter accompanied her again to Boris Melnikov. Tracy sat down and moved the black queen's pawn two squares.She saw Jeff standing far behind the crowd, giving her a slight nod of approval, almost unnoticed by anyone. Without hesitation, Boris Melnikov moved his white queen's bishop by two squares. Two minutes later, on Nicolescu's table, Tracey moved her white queen's bishop two squares. Nicolescu moves the pawn one square. Tracy got up, went back to Boris Melnikov's table, and moved the pawn one space. Ho!Melnikov was a little surprised that she wasn't exactly an amateur player.See how she handles this.He moved the rear horse to the third position of the rear. Tracy watched him move, nodded without saying a word, returned to Nicolescu's chess table, and repeated Melnikov's move just now. Nicolescu moved the back pawn to the front two squares, and Tracy returned to Melnikov's board, repeating Nicolescu's response. The two grandmasters became more and more amazed, and they began to realize that sitting in front of them was a chess player with superb chess skills.No matter what clever moves they make, the amateur chess player always takes it easy. Since Melnikov and Nikolascu were in separate rooms, it never occurred to either of them that they were actually fighting.Every time Melnikov made a move with Tracy, Tracy copied it to Nikolascu's chessboard intact.And when Nicholascu responded, Tracy responded to Melnikov in this way. The two grandmasters were less complacent when they entered the middle game.For their respective reputations, they racked their brains and fought hard.They paced up and down the room, brooding over each move, smoking their cigarettes viciously, while Tracy walked slowly and with ease. At first, Melnikov intended to give up his knight in order to end the game early, thereby putting pressure on White's flank opposite the black king; After thinking about this move for a while, he decided to give up the capture and fill the emptiness on the upper flank, and when Nicholescu gave up a bishop in order to get his rook into the seventh square of the white chess piece, Melnikov thought about it. He didn't let the black car destroy his pawn formation, nor did he rashly eat the elephant. Tracy went down step by step.The game lasted for four hours, and no one in the audience in the two chess rooms moved. Every chess master has hundreds of chess moves played by other masters in his mind.When the game was about to enter the endgame, both Melnikov and Nicolescu realized that this was undoubtedly the opponent's move. The bitch, thought Melnikov.She had learned chess from Nicolescu, and he had taught her. And Nicolescu thought, she was Melnikov's protégé, the bastard had passed on his game to her. The more they fought Tracy, the more they felt they couldn't win.The possibility of a tie is becoming more and more obvious. At four o'clock in the morning, the game entered the sixth hour, and the chess players entered the endgame.There are three pawns, one rook and one king left on the board.Neither side can win.Melnikov looked at the chessboard and pondered for a long time, took a deep breath intermittently and said, "I beg for peace." There was commotion all around, and Tracy said, "Yes." The crowd erupted. Tracy stood up and walked through the crowd to the next room.She was about to sit down when Nicolescu said, as if someone had strangled her neck: "I beg for peace." The same uproar was repeated in another room.People could hardly believe what they had just seen.A woman who appeared out of nowhere unexpectedly cornered two of the most outstanding chess masters in the world at the same time. Jeff appears next to Tracy. "Come here," he grinned from ear to ear, "we should go have a drink." They left, and Boris Melnikov and Peter Nicholescu were still reclining on their chairs dejectedly, staring at the chessboard in a daze. Tracy and Jeff went to the Upper Deck bar and found a table for two.give birth. "You did a great job." Jeff laughed heartily. "Did you notice Melnikov's face? I think he might be having a heart attack." "I think I'm going to have a heart attack." Tracy said. "How much did we win?" "About 200,000 US dollars. Tomorrow morning, when we climb the cliff in Thursendon, we can go to the purser to withdraw money. I will wait for you in the dining room in the morning." "it is good." "I want to go to bed. Let me take you to the cabin." "I don't want to sleep yet, Jeff. I'm so excited. You go first." "You're a champion," Jeff told her.He bent down and kissed her lightly on the cheek. "Good night, Tracy." "Good night, Jeff." She watched him go.sleep?Where can I sleep!It was the most extraordinary night of her life.The Russian and the Romanian were so confident, so arrogant.Jeff said, "Trust me." She believed it. She had no illusions about him.He's a con man.He's smart, likeable, and easy to get along with.However, she would never really take an interest in him by saying anything. Jeff met one of the ship's pilots on his way back to the cabin. "Excellent performance, Mr. Stevens. News of the match has been radioed. I expect the press will be waiting at Thurssenton to see you both. Are you Miss Whitney's boss?" "No, we only met after boarding the ship." Jeff struck up a conversation with his mouth, but he was thinking quickly in his mind.If he and Tracy were a partner, this matter would immediately be suspected of being a deliberate trap.If not, someone will come to investigate.He decided to get the money quickly before anyone else became suspicious. Jeff writes a note to Tracy: Withdrawn, waiting for you at the Savoy for breakfast to celebrate.You did a great job.jeff.He put the letter in an envelope, sealed it, and handed it to the waiter. "Please let Miss Whitney get this early tomorrow morning." "Yes, sir." Jeff went straight to the purser's office. "Sorry to bother you," Jeff said apologetically, "We're going to land in a few hours, I know how busy you'll be, and I wonder if you can pay me that amount now ?” "It's not troublesome at all." The purser smiled. "That young lady of yours is a real wonder, isn't she?" "of course." "If you don't mind, Mr. Stevens, can you tell me where she learned it?" Jeff leaned closer to him and whispered, "I heard she once learned chess from Bobby Fisher." The Purser took two large manila envelopes from the safe. "That's a lot of money for you. Would you like me to write you a check for the same amount?" "Ah, don't bother. Cash is better." Jeff advised him to rest assured. "But I wonder if you could do me a favor? The mail ship will come up to deliver the letter before we dock tomorrow, won't it?" "Yes, sir. The steamer arrives at six o'clock in the morning." "I would be very grateful if you could arrange for me to go ashore by mail. My mother is very ill, and I want to get back as soon as possible, otherwise..." His voice dropped suddenly, "it will be too late." "Ah, I'm so sorry, Mr. Stevens. Of course, I'll take care of all this for you. I'll also liaise with Customs for you." At 6:15 in the morning, Jeff Stevens hid the two leather envelopes in his suitcase and climbed into the mail ship along the rope ladder along the ship's side.He turned his head and took one last look at the outline of the huge and friendless ship, the passengers on the passenger ship were still asleep. When the "Queen Elizabeth 2" docks, Jeff will have already boarded the dock. "What an exhilarating trip," said Jeff to a sailor on the steamboat. "Yes, who said no?" Someone echoed. Jeff turned away.Tracy was sitting on a coil of cables.Her beautiful hair was gently brushing her face. "Tracey! What are you doing here?" “你认为我在这儿干什么？” 他注意到她的面部表情。“别误会！你别以为我要把你甩掉。” “我为什么要那么想？”她的语调有点尖刻。 “特蕾西，我给你留了一张字条。我准备在赛伏依等你，而且……” “你当然准备好了，”她冷冷地打断他，“你决不会认输的，是不？” 他瞥了她一眼，还有什么可说的呢。 在赛伏依饭店里的特蕾西的房间里，她全神贯注地看着杰夫清点钞票。“你的一半是十万零一千美元。” “谢谢您。”她的语调冷若冰霜。 杰夫说：“特蕾西，你误解了我。我希望你听我解释。今晚能跟我一起吃晚饭吗？” 她犹豫片刻，继而又点点头。 "Ok." “太好了。我八点钟来接你。” 这天晚上，杰夫·史蒂文斯来到饭店找特蕾西，客房部的职员说：“对不起，先生，惠特尼小姐今天下午已经退房。她没有留下转交信件的地址。”