Rodion. I am silent as a fish!
Ogranovich. This self-proclaimed chess grandmaster has a real ability to get into other people's brain. And he thoroughly digs into it. Once I played with him. I felt like I’d had a lobotomy – a very painful brain surgery. Since then I wouldn’t recommended anyone to play with him.
Vykhuholev. I heard everything! It’s a blatant lie! This is just a pathetic revenge of a rejected woman. Elena Pavlovna expected that, if she lost the game, she would have immediately ended up in my bed. But her dreams didn’t come true. I was not so generous or drunk, I don’t remember now. Then she got spiteful and started to spread some dirty rumors about me. She claimed that I am not interested in women at all.
Ogranovich. But this is the holy truth! I can confirm that even with the oath in court.
Myshevsky. This can go on for a long time if we don't interfere. Dear professor!
Golyshkin. Yes, Andrey Sigizmundovich?
Myshevsky. So, when shall we start our session? It seems to me that everyone is ready now. There are exactly six of us, just like you planned.
Golyshkin. Now let's start then. But first, I should ask everyone to put off something.
Olga. I hope not a dress? I heard that at some satanic sessions everyone strips naked and then they have wild parties. But I was invited to a spiritual seance, and that's quite different, isn't it?
Golyshkin. No, not clothes, of course, Olga Alekseevna. Don't worry. I mean metal things, like rings, bracelets, watches.
Olga. And my diamond ring?!
Golyshkin. It also needs to be removed. These are the rules for communicating with spirits. Rodion, would you please open the window. Then light up the candles and turn off the electric light.
Olga. May I light up the candles?!
Golyshkin. I’d like to ask everyone to take a seat at this table.
Myshevsky. Does it matter who sits next to whom?
Golyshkin. Olga Alekseevna has to sit on my right side, since she will write down messages of Hermes Trismegistus’s. Of course, if he would kindly wish to tell us something, For other members the location at the table does not matter. The main thing is not to move the chairs. They are arranged in the form of a six-pointed star, a hexagram, as I said.
Olga. May I ask your spirit when it appears…
Golyshkin. Sorry, Olga Alekseevna, but I can’t let you this. Only one person, the medium, can speak to the spirit. And that's me. Everyone else just puts their hands on a saucer – you see, here it is, in the middle of the table, in the center of the alphabet circle. Everyone must be silent, no matter what happens during the session.
