by Leo Tolstoy
PROFESSOR (to LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH). Do you notice how the medium's trance acts on Grossman? He is beginning to vibrate.
LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. Yes, yes ... can the lights be extinguished now?
SAHÁTOF. But why is darkness necessary?
PROFESSOR. Darkness? Because it is a condition of the manifestation of mediumistic energy, just as a given temperature is a condition necessary for certain manifestations of chemical or dynamic energy.
LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. But not always. Manifestations have been observed by me, and by many others, both by candlelight and daylight.
PROFESSOR (interrupting). May the lights be put out?
LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. Yes, certainly. (Puts out candles.) Ladies and gentlemen! attention, if you please.
[TÁNYA gets from under the sofa and takes hold of a thread tied to a chandelier.
PETRÍSTCHEF. I like that Spaniard! Just in the midst of a conversation--off he goes head downwards ... as the French say: piquer une tête. [12]
BETSY. You just wait a bit, and see what will happen!
PETRÍSTCHEF. I have only one fear, and that is that Vovo may be moved by the spirit to grunt like a pig!
VASÍLY LEONÍDITCH. Would you like me to? I will....
LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. Gentlemen! Silence, if you please!
[Silence. SIMON licks the matches on his fingers and rubs his knuckles with them. Leoníd Fyódoritch. A light! Do you see the light?
SAHÁTOF. A light? Yes, yes, I see; but allow me....
FAT LADY. Where? Where? Oh, dear, I did not see it! Ah, there it is. Oh!...
PROFESSOR (whispers to LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH, and points to GROSSMAN, who is moving). Do you notice how he vibrates? It is the dual influence.
[The light appears again.
LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH (to the PROFESSOR). It must be he--you know!
SAHÁTOF. Who?
LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. A Greek, Nicholas. It is his light. Don't you think so, Alexéy Vladímiritch?
SAHÁTOF. Who is this Greek, Nicholas?
PROFESSOR. A certain Greek, who was a monk at Constantinople under Constantine and who has been visiting us lately.
FAT LADY. Where is he? Where is he? I don't see him.
LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. He is not yet visible ... Alexéy Vladímiritch, he is particularly well disposed towards you. You question him.
PROFESSOR (in a peculiar voice). Nicholas! Is that you?
[TÁNYA raps twice on the wall.
LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH (joyfully). It is he! It is he!
FAT LADY. Oh, dear! Oh! I shall go away!
SAHÁTOF. Why do you suppose it is he?
LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. Why, the two knocks. It is an affirmative answer; else all would have been silence.
[Silence. Suppressed giggling in the young people's corner. TÁNYA throws a lampshade, pencil and penwiper upon the table.
LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH (whispers). Do you notice, gentlemen, here is a lamp-shade, and something else--a pencil!... Alexéy Vladímiritch, 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.
SAHÁTOF. Excuse me, excuse me! I should like to see whether it is not the medium who is doing it all himself?
LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. Do you think so? Well, sit by him and hold his hands. But you may be sure he is asleep.
SAHÁTOF (approaches, TÁNYA 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 LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH). 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.
LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. 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 LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH). Do you see? Do you see?
GROSSMAN. If you like....
DOCTOR. Now then, my dear sir, leave the management to Alexéy Vladímiritch; 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....
LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. Silence, if you please.
[TÁNYA draws a thread over the FAT LADY'S head.
FAT LADY. Aie!
LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. What? What is it?
FAT LADY. He took hold of my hair!
LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH (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!
SAHÁTOF. Yes, it is strange, very strange!
LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. He is here and is seeking for intercourse. Who wishes to put a question to him?
SAHÁTOF. I should like to put a question, if I may.
PROFESSOR. Please do.
SAHÁTOF. Do I believe or not?
[TÁNYA knocks twice.
PROFESSOR. The answer is affirmative.
SAHÁTOF. Allow me to ask again. Have I a ten rouble note in my pocket?
[TÁNYA knocks several times and passes a thread over SAHÁTOF'S head.
SAHÁTOF. 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!
SAHÁTOF. No, but allow me! Here I have a thread in my hand!
LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. A thread? Hold it fast; that happens often, and not only threads but sometimes even silk cords--very ancient ones!
SAHÁTOF. No--but where did this thread come from?
[TÁNYA throws a cushion at him.
SAHÁTOF. 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?
LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. 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 VASÍLY LEONÍDITCH begins to cry like a baby: "ou-a, ou-a!" (Laughter.) Holding their mouths and noses, the girls and PETRÍSTCHEF run away bursting with laughter.
FAT LADY. Ah, that must be the monk who's been born again!
LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH (beside himself with anger, whispers). One gets nothing but tomfoolery from you! If you don't know how to behave decently, go away!
[Exit VASÍLY LEONÍDITCH. Darkness and silence.
FAT LADY. Oh, what a pity! Now one can't ask any more! He is born!
LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. 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. Leoníd Fyódoritch, will you?
LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. No, you, if you please. This has upset me. So unpleasant! Such want of tact!...
PROFESSOR. Very well.... Nicholas, are you here?
[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....
SAHÁTOF. I can only speak of what I have seen. I did not see that-- nothing of the kind.
FAT LADY. You don't mean to say so? Why, it was quite plainly visible! And to the left there was a monk clothed in black bending over it....
SAHÁTOF (moves away. Aside). What exaggeration!
FAT LADY (addressing the DOCTOR). You must have seen it! It rose up from your side.
[DOCTOR goes on counting the pulse without heeding her.
FAT LADY (to GROSSMAN). And that light, the light around it, especially around its little face! And the expression so mild and tender, something so heavenly!
[Smiles tenderly herself.
GROSSMAN. I saw phosphorescent light, and objects changed their places, but I saw nothing more than that.
FAT LADY. Don't tell me! You don't mean it! It is simply that you scientists of Charcot's school do not believe in a life beyond the grave! As for me, no one could now make me disbelieve in a future life--no one in the world!
[GROSSMAN moves away from her.
FAT LADY. No, no, whatever you may say, this is one of the happiest moments of my life! When I heard Sarasate play, and now.... Yes! (No one listens to her. She goes up to SIMON.) Now tell me, my friend, what did you feel? Was it very trying?
SIMON (laughs). Yes, ma'm, just so.
FAT LADY. Still not unendurable?
SIMON. Just so, ma'm. (To LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH.) Am I to go?
LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. Yes, you may go.
DOCTOR (to the PROFESSOR). The pulse is the same, but the temperature is lower.
PROFESSOR. Lower! (Considers awhile, then suddenly divines the conclusion.) It had to be so--it had to descend! The dual influence crossing had to produce some kind of reflex action. Yes, that's it!
[Exeunt, all talking at once--
LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. I'm only sorry we had no complete materialisation. But still.... Come, gentlemen, let us go to the drawing-room?
FAT LADY. What specially struck me was when he flapped his wings, and one saw how he rose!
GROSSMAN (to SAHÁTOF). If we had kept to hypnotism, we might have produced a thorough state of epilepsy. The success might have been complete!
SAHÁTOF. It is very interesting, but not entirely convincing. That is all I can say.
[Enter THEODORE IVÁNITCH.
LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH (with paper in his hand). Ah, Theodore, what a remarkable séance we have had! It turns out that the peasants must have the land on their own terms.
THEODORE IVÁNITCH. Dear me!
LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. Yes, indeed. (Showing paper.) Fancy, this paper that I returned to them, suddenly appeared on the table! I have signed it.
THEODORE IVÁNITCH. How did it get there?
LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. Well, it did get there!
[Exit. THEODORE IVÁNITCH follows him out.
TÁNYA (gets from under the sofa and laughs). Oh, dear, oh dear! Well, I did get a fright when he got hold of the thread! (Shrieks.) Well, anyhow, it's all right--he has signed it!
[Enter GREGORY.
GREGORY. So it was you that was fooling them?
TÁNYA. What business is it of yours?
GREGORY. And do you think the missis will be pleased with you for it? No, you bet; you're caught now! I'll tell them what tricks you're up to, if you don't let me have my way!
TÁNYA. And you'll not get your way, and you'll not do me any harm!
CURTAIN
ACT IV
The same scene as in Act I. The next day. Two liveried footmen, THEODORE IVÁNITCH and GREGORY.
FIRST FOOTMAN (with grey whiskers). Yours is the third house to-day. Thank goodness that all the at-homes are in this direction. Yours used to be on Thursdays.
THEODORE IVÁNITCH. Yes, we changed to Saturday so as to be on the same day as the Golóvkins and Grade von Grabes....
SECOND FOOTMAN. The Stcherbákofs do the thing well. There's refreshments for the footmen every time they've a ball.
[The two PRINCESSES, mother and daughter, come down the stairs accompanied by BETSY. The old PRINCESS looks in her note-book and at her watch, and sits down on the settle. GREGORY puts on her overshoes.
YOUNG PRINCESS. Now, do come. Because, if you refuse, and Dodo refuses, the whole thing will be spoilt.
BETSY. I don't know. I must certainly go to the Shoúbins. And then there is the rehearsal.
YOUNG PRINCESS. You'll have plenty of time. Do, please. Ne nous fais pas faux bond.[13] Fédya and Koko will come.
BETSY. J'en ai par-dessus la tête de votre Koko.[14]
YOUNG PRINCESS. I thought I should see him here. Ordinairement il est d'une exactitude....[15]
BETSY. He is sure to come.
YOUNG PRINCESS. When I see you together, it always seems to me that he has either just proposed or is just going to propose.
BETSY. Yes, I don't suppose it can be avoided. I shall have to go through with it. And it is so unpleasant!
YOUNG PRINCESS. Poor Koko! He is head over ears in love.
BETSY. Cessez, les gens![16]
[YOUNG PRINCESS sits down, talking in whispers. GREGORY puts on her overshoes.
