PORTER. From Bourdey's. I've brought a dress, and here's a note for the lady. TANYA (taking the note). Sit down, and I'll take it in. [Exit. [VASILY LEONIDITCH looks out of the door in shirt-sleeves and slippers. VASILY LEONIDITCH. Gregory! GREGORY. Yes, sir. VASILY LEONIDITCH. Gregory! Don't you hear me call? GREGORY. I've only just come, sir. VASILY LEONIDITCH. Hot water, and a cup of tea. GREGORY. Yes, sir; Simon will bring them directly. VASILY LEONIDITCH. And who is this? Ah, from Bourdier? PORTER. Yes, sir. [Exeunt VASILY LEONIDITCH and GREGORY. Bell rings. TANYA runs in at the sound of the bell and opens the front door. TANYA (to PORTER). Please wait a little. Porter. I am waiting. [SAHATOF enters at front door. TANYA. I beg your pardon, but the footman has just gone away. This way, sir. Allow me, please. [Takes his fur cloak. SAHATOF (adjusting his clothes). Is Leonid Fyodoritch at home? Is he up? [Bell rings. TANYA. Oh yes, sir. He's been up a long time. [DOCTOR enters and looks around for the footman. Sees SAHATOF and addresses him in an offhand manner. DOCTOR. Ah, my respects to you! SAHATOF (looks fixedly at him). The Doctor, I believe? DOCTOR. And I thought you were abroad! Dropped in to see Leonid Fyodoritch? SAHATOF. Yes. And you? Is any one ill? DOCTOR (laughing). Not exactly ill but, you know.... It's awful with these ladies! Sits up at cards till three every morning, and pulls her waist into the shape of a wine-glass. And the lady is flabby and fat, and carries the weight of a good many years on her back. SAHATOF. Is this the way you state your diagnosis to Anna Pavlovna? I should hardly think it quite pleases her! DOCTOR (laughing). Well, it's the truth. They do all these tricks--and then come derangements of the digestive organs, pressure on the liver, nerves, and all sorts of things, and one has to come and patch them up. It's just awful! (Laughs.) And you? You are also a spiritualist, it seems? SAHATOF. I? No, I am not also a spiritualist.... Good morning! [Is about to go, but is stopped by the DOCTOR. DOCTOR. No! But I can't myself, you know, positively deny the possibility of it, when a man like Krougosvetlof is connected with it all. How can one? Is he not a professor,--a European celebrity? There must be something in it. I should like to see for myself, but I never have the time. I have other things to do. SAHATOF. Yes, yes! Good morning. [Exit, bowing slightly. DOCTOR (to Tanya). Is Anna Pavlovna up? TANYA. She's in her bedroom, but please come up. [DOCTOR goes upstairs. [THEODORE IVANITCH enters with a newspaper In his hand. THEODORE IVANITCH (to PORTER). What is it you want? PORTER. I'm from Bourdey's. I brought a dress and a note, and was told to wait. THEODORE IVANITCH. Ah, from Bourdey's! (To Tanya.) Who came in just now?