Tánya raps twice and rings. Simon roars, spreads his arms out, seizes Sahátof and the Professor--squeezing them. PROFESSOR. What an unexpected phenomenon! The medium himself reacted upon! This never happened before! Leoníd Fyódoritch, will you watch? It is difficult for me to do so. He squeezes me so! Mind you observe Grossman! This needs the very greatest attention! Tánya throws the peasants' paper on the table. LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. Something has fallen upon the table. PROFESSOR. See what it is! LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. Paper! A folded paper! Tánya throws a travelling inkstand on the table. LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. An inkstand! Tánya throws a pen. LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. A pen! Simon roars and squeezes. PROFESSOR [crushed] Wait a bit, wait: a totally new manifestation! The action proceeding not from the mediumistic energy produced, but from the medium himself! However, open the inkstand, and put the pen on the table, and _he_ will write! Tánya goes behind Leoníd Fyódoritch and strikes him on the head with the guitar. LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. He has struck me on the head! [Examining table] The pen is not writing yet and the paper remains folded. PROFESSOR. See what the paper is, and quickly; evidently the dual influence--his and Grossman's--has produced a perturbation! LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH [goes out and returns at once] Extraordinary! This paper is an agreement with some peasants that I refused to sign this morning and returned to the peasants. Probably _he_ wants me to sign it? PROFESSOR. Of course! Of course! But ask him. LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. Nicholas, do you wish ... Tánya knocks twice. PROFESSOR. Do you hear? It is quite evident! Leoníd Fyódoritch takes the paper and pen and goes out. Tánya knocks, plays on the guitar and the accordion, and then creeps under the sofa. Leoníd Fyódoritch returns. Simon stretches himself and coughs. LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. He is waking up. We can light the candles. PROFESSOR [hurriedly] Doctor, Doctor, please, his pulse and temperature! You will see that a rise of both will be apparent. LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH [lights the candles] Well, what do you gentlemen who were sceptical think of it now? DOCTOR [goes up to Simon and places thermometer] Now then my lad. Well, have you had a nap? There, put that in there, and give me your hand. [Looks at his watch]. SAHÁTOF [shrugging his shoulders] I must admit that all that has occurred cannot have been done by the medium. But the thread?... I should like the thread explained. LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. A thread! A thread! We have been witnessing manifestations more important than a thread. SAHÁTOF. I don't know. At all events, _je réserve mon opinion_. FAT LADY [to Sahátof] Oh no, how can you say: "_je réserve mon opinion?_" And the infant with the little wings? Didn't you see? At first I thought it was only an illusion, but afterwards it became clearer and clearer, like a live ...