This question disconcerted Ivan somewhat, and he grimaced.

" Annushka is of no importance in this matter, " he said nervously. " The devil knows who she is. Just some foolish woman from Sadovaya Street. Don't you understand, the important thing is that he knew in advance about the sunflower oil! Do you understand me? "

" I understand you perfectly, " Stravinsky replied in a serious tone and, touching the poet's knee, he added, " Don't get excited, go on."

" I will, " said Ivan, trying to imitate Stravinsky's tone and knowing from bitter experience that staying calm was the only thing that would help him. " So this horrible character, who is lying, by the way, about being a consultant, possesses some kind of extraordinary power... For example, if you chase him, you can't ever catch him. And he's got quite a pair with him who have their own special charm: a tall guy with broken eyeglasses, and a tremendously huge cat who rides streetcars by himself. What's more, " Ivan spoke with greater fervor and conviction when no one was interrupting him, " he was on Pontius Pilate's balcony himself, no doubt about it! What do you make of that? Huh? He should be arrested right away or else he'll cause indescribable harm."

" So you are trying to have him arrested? Have I understood you correctly? " asked Stravinsky.

" He's clever, " thought Ivan, " You have to admit, there are some smart people even among the intelligentsia. No denying that! " and he replied, " Absolutely correctly! Judge for yourself, what else is there to do! But meanwhile they're holding me here by force, shining lights in my eyes, washing me in tubs, and asking me questions about my Uncle Fyodor! And he's been dead for years! I demand to be released immediately."

" Well, splendid, splendid! " replied Stravinsky, " It's all clear now. And, really, what sense is there in keeping a sane man in the hospital? So, I'll release you immediately if you tell me you're normal. You don't have to prove it, just say it. So, then, are you normal? "

There was complete silence. The fat woman who had taken care of Ivan that morning looked at the professor with pious respect, and again Ivan thought, " Very clever."

The professor's offer was very attractive, but before answering, Ivan thought very hard, wrinkled his brow, and finally said firmly, " Yes, I am normal."

" Well, that's splendid, " Stravinsky exclaimed with relief, " and if you are, let's reason this out logically. Take yesterday, for example, " at this