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Name of the Game“Murder! Bloody murder!” The major’s iron fist came crashing down upon the table. Thecrimson liquid in the glass swirled around; it was a miracle it didn’t spill. The chess boardtrembled but no casualties.“You are murdering me, madam.” The major smiled and picked up an ebony bishop.Madam LeCroux now closed the fan that had covered her face, revealing a mouth opened inastonishment.“You had me on the run for a while there, my lady. But I am afraid the game is over.Checkmate.” Madam LeCroux returned the major’s smile with one of her own, but hers was a bitter one. With the tip of her index finger, she lay down her ivory king. She rose from her seatwith the fan in her hand reopened. The major rose as well. She bowed and walked away from the board and more importantly, away from the major. He watched her walk away, wondering if hehad offended her in some way. Behind the major, sitting upon the window sill, was a man staringout into the night. The weather was uncommon for winter. Instead of white flakes of snow, thiswinter sky brought rain. That queer weather was as queer as the ensemble of characters withinthe study. These characters (for aren’t we all characters in the large play that is life?) couldhardly have come from a Shakespearian work. There was Major Barrow, the seasoned veterandressed to the nines in his military uniform, lest we forget he served his majesty with honour.The charming ( and I use the term loosely) lady( again, rather loosely) whom the major sat withmoments before was none other than Madam Morgan LeCroux, duchess of something or other,no one really knew nor did they care. All they knew, and indeed all she wanted them to know,was that she had wealth and plenty of it. Lady Catherine Mead, the other fair lady of the group,

was certainly not be outdone. When in the company of other ladies, her green gown instilled thatemotion so often associated with that color. To be fair, the color of the gown never seemedrelevant because she instilled envy regardless of what she wore. Standing near one of the bookshelves at the back end of the study was Lady LeCroux’s nephew. He was the sort of manone invites to a party, not for his high status or for any charming demeanor, but rather out of pityor, as was the case here, out of a sense of debt. The one time anyone could say Madame LeCrouxwas a lady and, perhaps a human being, was when she was in the presence of her sister CountessVaughn. It was out of respect and love of that bond that she (rather hesitantly) agreed to bring her nephew with her. Dominic Vaughn looked more like a ghastly butler than a man as he stoodglancing at the collection of books behind the glass. So ghastly was his figure that every once ina while he would jump at the sight of his own reflection upon the glass. He glanced over hisshoulder, watching his aunt pass by. He shifted his head towards Major Barrow and then back tothe shelve in front of him. The man peering out of the window shifted his gaze away from thedarkness outside towards the major. He smiled.“She is not used to losing, Major. The men she often meets are far more preoccupied withother matters to give her a worthy challenge. She is a good player from what I understand.” Themajor felt a hand on his shoulder.“Give her a couple of minutes. Play her again.” The major turned to face his advisor.“I suppose. Say Andrew, where is your father anyway? Everyone else has gone home andas much as I enjoy your father’s company, I have some business to attend to early in themorning.” Andrew shrugged.2

“I don’t know.” He searched his trouser pocket and pulled out a silver pocket watch. “Letus wait a bit. I’ll go check on him in a couple of minutes. You know how he gets.” The major nodded. He sat down in front of the board invited Andrew to take a seat.“Care for a game?” Andrew shrugged again.“Might as well.”Dominic made his way towards the two gentlemen. They looked up at him,acknowledged his presence, and went back to the game. The match soon began to draw a crowd,if two people can be considered a crowd. Lady Mead now stood a few feet to the right of Dominic. The young man glanced at her blue eyes, her lightly freckled face, and her long blondehair and almost blushed. Lady Mead noticed the glance but was more uncomfortable thanflattered by the attention. The silence of the room was only broken by the sound of the rain uponthe window. Heavy footsteps from above made Andrew and the major look up.“What the devil is he doing up there?” asked Major Barrow.“I haven’t the foggiest. Might have something to do with that medal of his.” Major Barrow looked at Andrew with wide eyes.“You don’t mean...?” Andrew nodded.“Yes. The very same medal he was awarded when he was in the service with you. Heapparently lost it some weeks ago at Colonel Shepherd’s party. You remember the one? He has been racking his brains over the thing ever since. To tell you the truth, I think that’s why he hadthis little party tonight.” Major Barrow was taken aback by the statement.“What do you mean?”“He thinks someone that was at the party took it. So he went out of his way to throw a party and invite the same people that were there that night. He had it in his head to question3