He began this careful analysis in rather a strange way, namely, by making faces and winking at his king.

" Nothing will help, " observed Korovyov.

" Oh! " shouted Behemoth. " The parrots have flown away, just as I predicted! "

And, in fact, from the distance came the sound of many flapping wings. Korovyov and Azazello rushed out.

" To hell with your ball practical jokes! " muttered Woland, without taking his eyes from his globe.

As soon as Korovyov and Azazello were gone, Behemoth's winking intensified. Finally, the white king caught on to what was expected of him. He abruptly pulled off his cape, threw it down on the square and ran off the board. The bishop donned the king's cast-off attire and took the king's place.

Korovyov and Azazello returned.

" Fake alarm, as always, " grumbled Azazello, looking askance at Behemoth.

The Master and Margarita

" 1 thought I heard something, " replied the cat.

" Well, how long is this going to go on? " asked Woland. " Checkmate."

" Perhaps I misheard you, my maî tre, but my king is not in check, nor could he be."

" I repeat, checkmate."

" Messire, " responded the cat in a fake-anxious voice. " You must be overtired; my king is not in check."

" Your king is on square G2, " said Woland, without looking at the board.

" Messire, I'm horrified! " wailed the cat, faking a look of horror. " There is no king on that square."

" What are you saying? " asked Woland in disbelief as he looked at the board and saw the bishop on the king's square turn away and cover his face with his hand.

" Oh, you scoundrel, " said Woland pensively.

" Messire! I must again appeal to logic, " began the cat, pressing his paws to his chest. " If a player says checkmate, and there is no trace of the king on the board, then the checkmate is null and void."

" Do you concede or not? " shouted Woland in a terrible voice.

" Let me think for a bit, " answered the cat meekly. He then put his elbows on the table, covered his ears with his paws, and began to think. He thought for a long time and finally said, " I concede."

" Kill the stubborn beast, " whispered Azazello.

" Yes, I concede, " said the cat, " but only because I can't play when I'm being badgered by envious bystanders! " He got up and the chessmen clambered into the box.

" Hella, " said Woland, " it's time, " and she disappeared from the room. " My leg has flared up again, and now there's this ball..." continued Woland.

" Allow me, " said Margarita softly.