Tony and Speransky talk in whispers.  A prolonged pause follows the rise of the curtain._

TONY (bending over to Speransky, mysteriously)

So you say it is possible we do not exist, eh?

SPERANSKY (in the same manner)

As I have already stated, it is doubtful, extremely doubtful.  There is very good reason to suppose that we really do not exist—­that we don’t exist at all.

TONY

And you are not, and I am not.

SPERANSKY

And you are not, and I am not.  No one is. (Pause)

TONY (looking around, mysteriously)

Where are we then?

SPERANSKY

We?

TONY

Yes, we.

SPERANSKY

That’s something no one can tell.  No one knows, Anthony.

TONY

No one?

SPERANSKY

No one.

TONY (glancing around)

Doesn’t Savva know?

SPERANSKY

No, Savva doesn’t know either.

TONY

Savva knows everything.

SPERANSKY

But even he doesn’t know that.

TONY (threatening with his finger)

Keep still, keep still! (Both look around and are silent)

TONY (mysteriously)

Where are they going, eh?

SPERANSKY

To the elevation of the ikon.  To-morrow is a feast-day—­the day of raising the ikon.

TONY

No, I mean where are they really going—­really—­don’t you understand?

SPERANSKY

I do.  It isn’t known.  No one knows, Anthony.

TONY

Hush! (Makes a funny grimace, closes his mouth with his hand and leans on it)

SPERANSKY (in a whisper)

What’s the matter?

TONY

Keep quiet, keep quiet.  Listen. (Both are listening)

TONY (in whisper)

Those are faces.

SPERANSKY

Yes?

TONY

It’s faces that are going.  A lot of faces—­can’t you see them?

SPERANSKY (staring)