Redemption and two other plays Part 75

LEONiD FYoDORITCH. He is not yet visible ... Alexey Vladimiritch, he is particularly well disposed towards you. You question him.

PROFESSOR (in a peculiar voice). Nicholas! Is that you?

[TaNYA raps twice on the wall.

LEONiD FYoDORITCH (joyfully). It is he! It is he!

FAT LADY. Oh, dear! Oh! I shall go away!

SAHaTOF. Why do you suppose it is he?

LEONiD FYoDORITCH. Why, the two knocks. It is an affirmative answer; else all would have been silence.

[Silence. Suppressed giggling in the young people's corner.

TaNYA throws a lampshade, pencil and penwiper upon the table.

LEONiD FYoDORITCH (whispers). Do you notice, gentlemen, here is a lamp-shade, and something else--a pencil!... Alexey Vladimiritch, it is a pencil!

PROFESSOR. All right, all right! I am watching both him and Grossman!

[GROSSMAN rises and feels the things that have fallen on the table.

SAHaTOF. Excuse me, excuse me! I should like to see whether it is not the medium who is doing it all himself?

LEONiD FYoDORITCH. Do you think so? Well, sit by him and hold his hands. But you may be sure he is asleep.

SAHaTOF (approaches, TaNYA lets a thread touch his head. He is frightened, and stoops). Ye ... ye ... yes! Strange, very strange!

[Takes hold of SIMON'S elbow. SIMON howls.

PROFESSOR (to LEONiD FYoDORITCH). Do you notice the effect of Grossman's presence? It is a new phenomenon--I must note it....

[Runs out to note it down, and returns again.

LEONiD FYoDORITCH. Yes.... But we cannot leave Nicholas without an answer. We must begin....

GROSSMAN (rises, approaches Simon and raises and lowers his arm). It would be interesting to produce contraction! The subject is in profound hypnosis.

PROFESSOR (to LEONiD FYoDORITCH). Do you see? Do you see?

GROSSMAN. If you like....

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 pa.s.ses 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 cus.h.i.+on at him.

SAHaTOF. Wait a bit; wait! Something soft has. .h.i.t me on the head.

Light a candle--there is something....

PROFESSOR. We beg of you not to interrupt the manifestations.