Stout Lady. That's what I say,—we ought not to misuse it. A hypnotizer had suggested to a friend of mine, Vyérochka Konshín,—you know her,—to stop smoking, and her spine began to ache.
Professor (wants to begin speaking). The measurement of the temperature and of the pulse show obviously—
Stout Lady. Just a minute, excuse me. So I told her it would be better to smoke than to suffer from the nerves. Of course, smoking is harmful, and I should like to give it up, but do what you please, I can't. I once stopped for two weeks, but I could not stand it any longer.
Professor (again makes an attempt to speak). Show conclusively—
Stout Lady. No, just let me finish. I have only two words more to say. You say it is a loss of strength? I wanted to tell you that when I travelled post— The roads were dreadful then,—you can't remember that, but I have noticed that all our nervousness comes from the railroads. For example, I can't sleep on the road,—kill me, but I can't fall asleep.
Professor (begins again, but the Stout Lady gives him no chance to speak). The loss of strength—
Sakhátov (smiling). Yes, yes.
(Leonid Fédorovich rings the bell.)
Stout Lady. Though I have been without sleep, one, two, three nights, I cannot fall asleep.
Scene V. The same and Grigóri.
Leoníd Fédorovich. Please, tell Fédor to prepare everything for the séance and call Semén here,—Semén, the peasant of the pantry,—do you hear?
Grigóri. Yes, sir! (Exit.)
