Fruits of Culture Part 28

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 ...

SAHaTOF. 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 ...

SAHaTOF [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 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 phosph.o.r.escent 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 Leonid Fyodoritch] Am I to go?

LEONiD FYoDORITCH. 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.

{ LEONiD FYoDORITCH. 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 Sahatof] If we had kept to hypnotism, we might have { produced a thorough state of epilepsy. The success might have been { complete!

{ { SAHaTOF. It is very interesting, but not entirely convincing. That { is all I can say.

Enter Theodore Ivanitch.

LEONiD FYoDORITCH [with paper in his hand] Ah, Theodore, what a remarkable seance we have had! It turns out that the peasants must have the land on their own terms.

THEODORE IVaNITCH. Dear me!

LEONiD FYoDORITCH. Yes, indeed. [Showing paper] Fancy, this paper that I returned to them, suddenly appeared on the table! I have signed it.

THEODORE IVaNITCH. How did it get there?

LEONiD FYoDORITCH. Well, it did get there! [Exit, Theodore Ivanitch follows him out].

TaNYA [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?

TaNYA. 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!

TaNYA. And you'll not get your way, and you'll not do me any harm!

Curtain.

ACT IV