TaNYA. I can't promise for certain, but as the saying is: "An attempt is no sin, if you try...."

FIRST PEASANT. "You may win." That's just so.

[Enter THEODORE IVaNITCH.

THEODORE IVaNITCH. No, friends, it's no go! He has not done it, and he won't do it. Here, take your doc.u.ment. You may go.

FIRST PEASANT (gives TaNYA the paper). Then it's on you we pin all our reliance, for example.

TaNYA. Yes, yes! You go into the street, and I'll run out to you in a minute and have a word with you.

[Exeunt PEASANTS.

TaNYA. Theodore Ivanitch, dear Theodore Ivanitch, ask the master to come out and speak to me for a moment. I have something to say to him.

THEODORE IVaNITCH. What next?

TaNYA. I must, Theodore Ivanitch. Ask him, do; there's nothing wrong about it, on my sacred word.

THEODORE IVaNITCH. But what do you want with him?

TaNYA. That's a little secret. I will tell you later on, only ask him.

THEODORE IVaNITCH (smiling). I can't think what you are up to! All right, I'll go and ask him.

[Exit.

TaNYA. I'll do it! Didn't he say himself that there is that power in Simon? And I know how to manage. No one found me out that time, and now I'll teach Simon what to do. If it doesn't succeed it's no great matter. After all it's not a sin.

[Enter LEONiD FYoDORITCH, followed by THEODORE IVaNITCH.

LEONiD FYoDORITCH (smiling). Is this the pet.i.tioner? Well, what is your business?

TaNYA. It's a little secret, Leonid Fyodoritch; let me tell it you alone.

LEONiD FYoDORITCH. What is it? Theodore, leave us for a minute.

[Exit THEODORE IVaNITCH.

TaNYA. As I have grown up and lived in your house, Leonid Fyodoritch, and as I am very grateful to you for everything, I shall open my heart to you as to a father. Simon, who is living in your house, wants to marry me.

LEONiD FYoDORITCH. So that's it!

TaNYA. I open my heart to you as to a father! I have no one to advise me, being an orphan.

LEONiD FYoDORITCH. Well, and why not? He seems a nice lad.

TaNYA. Yes, that's true. He would be all right; there is only one thing I have my doubts about. It's something about him that I have noticed and can't make out ... perhaps it is something bad.

LEONiD FYoDORITCH. What is it? Does he drink?

TaNYA. G.o.d forbid! But since I know that there is such a thing as spiritalism....

LEONiD FYoDORITCH. Ah, you know that?

TaNYA. Of course! I understand it very well. Some, of course, through ignorance, don't understand it.

LEONiD FYoDORITCH. Well, what then?

TaNYA. I am very much afraid for Simon. It does happen to him.

LEONiD FYoDORITCH. What happens to him?

TaNYA. Something of a kind like spiritalism. You ask any of the servants. As soon as he gets drowsy at the table, the table begins to tremble, and creak like that: tuke, ... tuke! All the servants have heard it.

LEONiD FYoDORITCH. Why, it's the very thing I was saying to Sergey Ivanitch this morning! Yes?...

TaNYA. Or else ... when was it?... Oh, yes, last Wednesday. We sat down to dinner, and the spoon just jumps into his hand of itself!

LEONiD FYoDORITCH. Ah, that is interesting! Jumps into his hand? When he was drowsing?

TaNYA. That I didn't notice. I think he was, though.

LEONiD FYoDORITCH. Yes?...

TaNYA. And that's what I'm afraid of, and what I wanted to ask you about. May not some harm come of it? To live one's life together, and him having such a thing in him!

LEONiD FYoDORITCH (smiling). No, you need not be afraid, there is nothing bad in that. It only proves him to be a medium--simply a medium. I knew him to be a medium before this.

TaNYA. So that's what it is! And I was afraid!

LEONiD FYoDORITCH. No, there's nothing to be afraid of. (Aside.) That's capital! Kaptchitch can't come, so we will test him to-night.... (To TaNYA.) No, my dear, don't be afraid, he will be a good husband and ... that is only a kind of special power, and every one has it, only in some it is weaker and in others stronger.

TaNYA. Thank you, sir. Now I shan't think any more about it; but I was so frightened.... What a thing it is, our want of education!

LEONiD FYoDORITCH. No, no, don't be frightened.... Theodore!

[Enter THEODORE IVaNITCH.

LEONiD FYoDORITCH. I am going out now. Get everything ready for to-night's seance.

THEODORE IVaNITCH. But Mr. Kaptchitch is not coming.

LEONiD FYoDORITCH. That does not matter. (Puts on overcoat.) We shall have a trial seance with our own medium.

[Exit. THEODORE IVaNITCH goes out with him.

TaNYA (alone). He believes it! He believes it! (Shrieks and jumps with joy.) He really believes it! Isn't it wonderful! (Shrieks.) Now I'll do it, if only Simon has pluck for it!