PROFESSOR [makes another attempt, which the Fat Lady baffles] The loss of strength …
SAHÁTOF [smiling] Yes; oh yes!
Leoníd Fyódoritch rings.
FAT LADY. I am awake one night, and another, and a third, and still I can't sleep!
Enter Gregory.
LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. Please tell Theodore to get everything ready for the séance, and send Simon here—Simon, the butler's assistant,—do you hear?
GREGORY. Yes, sir. [Exit].
PROFESSOR [to Sahátof]. The observation of the temperature and the pulse have shown loss of vital energy. The same will happen in consequence of the mediumistic phenomena. The law of the conservation of energy …
FAT LADY. Oh yes, yes; I was just going to say that I am very glad that a simple peasant turns out to be a medium. That's very good. I always did say that the Slavophils …
LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH. Let's go into the drawing-room in the meantime.