You sound as if it's nothing but a grand game!
However, it goes on and on under protection of the grand old game.
"Life is a grand game, Albinus, and should be treated as such."
And she had to deal with them on that level, the great pretence, all part of the grand game.
No matter what he did, he really was part of some grand game, a mere piece to be played rather than a player.
The purpose was ostensibly to introduce the grand game far from the country club set.
The grand old game - 100 years old as a profession then - was on its last legs.
Possession was most of the law in this grand game, too.
But I've always had a soft spot for the "grand old game."
After a while, the geese regard all of this activity as a grand game.