Golyshkin. The topic that your friends have touched is urgent to me. I can talk about it for hours. But you're right, now is not the right time. Elena Pavlovna, let me help you!
Ogranovich. Don’t worry, professor! Being a woman, doesn’t mean to annoy men with all that stuff. So, don’t practice curtsies with me. Leave them for young chicks. But I am an old warhorse, as you have already heard.
Golyshkin. Hmm, Excuse me… Please, come in!
Everyone comes in the office. Golyshkin takes a seat at the desk. Ogranovich sits in a chair opposite. Vykhuholev sits down at a coffee table, takes out a box of chess from his pocket, arranges the pieces and starts playing by himself. Myshevsky walks around the room.
Ogranovich. I’d rather have some vodka now. It’s so cold, I am chilling! What about it, professor?
Golyshkin. One shouldn’t eat much and drink alcohol before a spiritual seance. But I can offer you a cup of coffee or tea. And we'll have dinner afterwards.
Vykhuholev. This chill is because of nerves, Elena Pavlovna. Vodka won't keep you warm.
Ogranovich. Oh, what a doctor you are! When I go crazy, then you’ll give me your advice, shrink.
Vykhuholev. I am looking forward to that time.
Myshevsky. Professor, you told about six people. There are four of us here. Is someone else coming?
Golyshkin. My son, Rodion. You already know him. And there is also one more lady.
Myshevsky. Oh, really? And who is she? Can she be trusted?
Golyshkin. Sure! Trust me.
Myshevsky. But I would like to know it for sure. I cannot reveal the recipe of the philosopher's stone to a stranger. I hope you understand me…
Golyshkin. Oh, your recipe! Olga Alekseevna is an extremely necessary person for our session. I will be a medium. My task is to establish contact, ask certain questions. But someone has to write down the answers. This will happen by moving the saucer around the alphabetical circle. Of course, if only the spirit of Hermes Trismegistus agrees to such a way of communication. But he also might choose to talk directly to a medium who would fell into trance, or he might prefer visible materialization, for instance.
Ogranovich. Oh, please, not this thing! If I see that your … – what‘s his name? – with my own eyes… Hermes! Oh, what a name! I will immediately die of fear.
Golyshkin. Don’t worry. Such thing happens very rarely during sessions.
Ogranovich. In my case it will definitely happen. You'll see it.
Myshevsky. Elena Pavlovna, shame on you! Follow Sergei Yurievich’s example – he is calm and confident, like a granite rock.
