At this moment, Ruby Gregory's mind was already far beyond Backgammon. Coming back to reality, she replied in agreement, picked up a white piece without even looking at where Howard Coleman had played, and randomly placed it on the board.
Madeleine stood nearby, drinking a glass of water. Seeing such a reckless move from Ruby, she choked violently and started coughing. Yet, shaking her finger at Howard's three clustered black pieces on the board, she teased Ruby, and said, "Ruby, you're obviously taking it easy on Howard!"
Ruby had played this move without giving it much thought. Now, Madeleine suddenly exposed it, causing her face to flush with embarrassment. She hurriedly picked up the piece she had just played and put it at one end of Howard's trio of black pieces.
However, before Ruby's white piece could settle down, Madeleine said, "Ruby, if you play it that way, Howard will still win."
