[TANYA raps twice and rings. SIMON roars, spreads his arms out, seizes SAHATOF and the PROFESSOR--squeezing them. PROFESSOR. What an unexpected phenomenon! The medium himself reacted upon! This never happened before! Leonid Fyodoritch, 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! [TANYA throws the PEASANTS' paper on the table. LEONID FYODORITCH. Something has fallen upon the table. PROFESSOR. See what it is! LEONID FYODORITCH. Paper! A folded paper! [TANYA throws a travelling inkstand on the table. LEONID FYODORITCH. An inkstand! [TANYA throws a pen. LEONID FYODORITCH. 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! [TANYA goes behind LEONID FYODORITCH and strikes him on the head with the guitar. LEONID FYODORITCH. 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! LEONID FYODORITCH (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. LEONID FYODORITCH. Nicholas, do you wish.... [TANYA knocks twice. PROFESSOR. Do you hear? It is quite evident! [LEONID FYODORITCH takes the paper and pen and goes out. TANYA knocks, plays on the guitar and the accordion, and then creeps under the sofa. LEONID FYODORITCH returns. SIMON stretches himself and coughs. LEONID FYODORITCH. 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. LEONID FYODORITCH (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. SAHATOF (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. LEONID FYODORITCH. A thread! A thread! We have been witnessing manifestations more important than a thread. SAHATOF. I don't know. At all events, je reserve mon opinion. FAT LADY (to SAHATOF). Oh, no, how can you say: "je reserve 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....