Scene XXII. The same and Tánya (coming with the plates for the presents. Listening to the conversation).
Sakhátov (smiling). Yes, yes. Here is a circumstance that puzzles me: why are the mediums always from what we would call the educated class? Both Kápchich and Márya Ignátevna. If it is a special power they possess, it ought to be met with everywhere, even among peasants.
Leoníd Fédorovich. And so it is. This occurs quite often we have a peasant in our house who has proved to be a medium. The other day we called him in during the séance. It was necessary to move a divan, and we had all forgotten about him. He had evidently fallen asleep. And just imagine: our séance was over, Kápchich awoke, and suddenly we noticed mediumistic manifestations in the other corner of the room, near the peasant,—the table moved.
Tánya (aside). That was when I crawled out from under the table.
Leoníd Fédorovich. Apparently he, too, is a medium,—the more so since he resembles Hume in face— Do you remember Hume? The naïve blond.
Sakhátov (shrugging his shoulders). I declare! This is very interesting. Then you ought to test him.
Leoníd Fédorovich. We are testing him. But he is not the only one. There are no end of mediums. We simply do not know them. Only the other day a sickly old woman moved a stone wall.
Sakhátov. Moved a stone wall?
Leoníd Fédorovich. Yes, yes. She was lying in bed and did not at all know that she was a medium. She pressed her hand against the wall, and the wall gave way.
Sakhátov. And did not cave in?
Leoníd Fédorovich. And did not cave in.
