DOCTOR. Now then, my dear sir, leave the management to Alexey Vladimiritch; the affair is turning out serious. PROFESSOR. Leave him alone, he (referring to GROSSMAN) is talking in his sleep! FAT LADY. How glad I now am that I resolved to be present! It is frightening, but all the same I am glad, for I always said to my husband.... LEONID FYODORITCH. Silence, if you please. [TANYA draws a thread over the FAT LADY'S head. FAT LADY. Aie! LEONID FYODORITCH. What? What is it? FAT LADY. He took hold of my hair! LEONID FYODORITCH (whispers). Never mind, don't be afraid, give him your hand. His hand will be cold, but I like it. FAT LADY (hides her hands). Not for the world! SAHATOF. Yes, it is strange, very strange! LEONID FYODORITCH. He is here and is seeking for intercourse. Who wishes to put a question to him? SAHATOF. I should like to put a question, if I may. PROFESSOR. Please do. SAHATOF. Do I believe or not? [TANYA knocks twice. PROFESSOR. The answer is affirmative. SAHATOF. Allow me to ask again. Have I a ten rouble note in my pocket? [TANYA knocks several times and passes a thread over SAHATOF'S head. SAHATOF. Ah! [Seizes the thread and breaks it. PROFESSOR. I should ask those present not to ask indefinite or trivial questions. It is unpleasant to him! SAHATOF. No, but allow me! Here I have a thread in my hand! LEONID FYODORITCH. A thread? Hold it fast; that happens often, and not only threads but sometimes even silk cords--very ancient ones! SAHATOF. No--but where did this thread come from? [TANYA throws a cushion at him. SAHATOF. Wait a bit; wait! Something soft has hit me on the head. Light a candle--there is something.... PROFESSOR. We beg of you not to interrupt the manifestations. FAT LADY. For goodness' sake, don't interrupt! I should also like to ask something. May I? LEONID FYODORITCH. Yes, if you like. FAT LADY. I should like to ask about my digestion. May I? I want to know what to take: aconite or belladonna? [Silence, whispers among the young people; suddenly VASILY LEONIDITCH begins to cry like a baby: "ou-a, ou-a!" (Laughter.) Holding their mouths and noses, the girls and PETRISTCHEF run away bursting with laughter. FAT LADY. Ah, that must be the monk who's been born again! LEONID FYODORITCH (beside himself with anger, whispers). One gets nothing but tomfoolery from you! If you don't know how to behave decently, go away! [Exit VASILY LEONIDITCH. Darkness and silence. FAT LADY. Oh, what a pity! Now one can't ask any more! He is born! LEONID FYODORITCH. Not at all. It is only Vovo's nonsense. But he is here. Ask him. PROFESSOR. That often happens. These jokes and ridicule are quite usual occurrences. I expect he is still here. But we may ask. Leonid Fyodoritch, will you? LEONID FYODORITCH. No, you, if you please. This has upset me. So unpleasant! Such want of tact!... PROFESSOR. Very well.... Nicholas, are you here?