CORRESPONDENT [_shouts to the unknown man_]. Permit me to introduce myself. I am the chief correspondent of the European press. I have been sent here at the special request of the editors. I should like to ask you several questions concerning your situation. What is your name? What is your general position? How old are you? [_The unknown man mumbles something._] CORRESPONDENT [_a little puzzled_]. I can't hear a thing. Has he been that way all the time? VOICE. Yes, it's impossible to hear a word he says. CORRESPONDENT [_jotting down something in his note-book_]. Fine! Are you a bachelor? [_The unknown man mumbles._] CORRESPONDENT. I can't hear you. Are you married? Yes? TOURIST. He said he was a bachelor. SECOND TOURIST. No, he didn't. Of course, he's married. CORRESPONDENT [_carelessly_]. You think so? All right. We'll put down, married. How many children have you? Can't hear. It seems to me he said three. Hm! Anyway, we'll put down five. TOURIST. Oh, my, what a tragedy. Five children! Imagine! MILITARY WOMAN. He is lying. CORRESPONDENT [_shouting_]. How did you get into this position? What? I can't hear? Louder! Repeat. What did you say? [_Perplexed, to the crowd._] What did he say? The fellow has a devilishly weak voice. FIRST TOURIST. It seems to me he said that he lost his way. SECOND TOURIST. No, he doesn't know himself how he got there. VOICES. He was out hunting.--He was climbing up the rocks.--No, no! He is simply a lunatic! CORRESPONDENT. I beg your pardon, I beg your pardon, ladies and gentlemen! Anyway, he didn't drop from the sky. However--[_He quickly jots down in his note-book._] Unhappy young man--suffering from childhood with attacks of lunacy.--The bright light of the full moon--the wild rocks.--Sleepy janitor--didn't notice-- FIRST TOURIST [_to the second, in a whisper_]. But it's a new moon now. SECOND TOURIST. Go, what does a layman know about astronomy. TOURIST [_ecstatically_]. Mary, pay attention to this! You have before you an ocular demonstration of the influence of the moon on living organisms. What a terrible tragedy to go out walking on a moonlit night and find suddenly that you have climbed to a place where it is impossible to climb down or be taken down. CORRESPONDENT [_shouting_]. What feelings are you experiencing? I can't hear. Louder! Ah, so? Well, well! What a situation! CROWD [_interested_]. Listen, listen! Let's hear what his feelings are. How terrible!