The cat was so puffed up with hurt feelings that it looked like he would burst in a second.

" Oh, what a rogue he is, what a rogue, " said Woland, shaking his head, " and every time the game isn't going his way and he's about to lose, he starts putting up smoke screens, like the worst charlatan on the bridge. Sit down this minute and stop talking drivel."

" I'll sit down, " said the cat, seating himself, " but I object to what you just said. My remarks are far from being drivel, as you so nicely put it in the lady's presence; rather, they are a series of neatly packaged syllogisms which would win the respect and admiration of such connoisseurs of the genre as Sextus Empiricus, Martianus Capella, or, who knows, even Aristotle himself."

" Checkmate, " said Woland.

" Please, please, let me see, " rejoined the cat, starting to survey the board with his opera glasses.

By Candlelight 219

" And so, " said Woland, addressing himself to Margarita, " I present to you, Donna, my retinue. This fellow who likes to play the fool is the cat Behemoth. You're already acquainted with Azazello and Korovyov, and this is my maid, Hella. She's quick and efficient, and there is no service which she cannot provide."

The beautiful Hella smiled and turned her green-hued eyes to Margarita while continuing to scoop out gobs of salve which she rubbed on Woland's knee.

" Well, that's that, " concluded Woland with a grimace, as Hella pressed his knee with particular force. " As you can see, it's a small, diverse, and ingenuous group." He fell silent and began spinning the globe in front of him. It was so artfully constructed that the deep blue oceans on it moved, and its polar cap looked real, snowy and icy.

Meanwhile, the chessboard was in chaos. An utterly distraught king in a white cape stamped on his square, his arms raised in despair. Three white lansquenet pawns with halberds stared in confusion at a bishop who was waving his crozier and pointing ahead to where Woland's black knights could be seen on adjacent black and white squares, mounted on two metdesome steeds, who were pawing the squares with their hooves.

Margarita was fascinated and astounded that the chess pieces were alive.

The cat, lowering his opera glasses, quietly poked his king over in the back. The latter covered his face in despair.

" It doesn't look good, dear Behemoth, " said Korovyov with quiet venom.

" The situation is serious, but by no means hopeless, " retorted Behemoth. " Moreover, I'm completely confident of ultimate victory. A careful analysis of the situation is all that is required."