IV + 

A tall thin elderly gentleman in a shabby grey coat and faded grey felt hat came along, crunching the gravel of the path under his feet, and stood near the professor. He looked at the musicians and the dancers, screwing up his grey eyes to see them better. There was an expression of astonishment on his dry, nervous face. + 

“Pardon me,” he said at last, raising his hat, “but what is this? What band is it?” + 

Professor Roggenfeldt turned his calm blue eyes on the unexpected visitor and answered with a bow of acknowledgment: + 

“Oh, that is the local peasant band. The villagers form their own band and they play if one invites them. Once every summer they give a concert in that field and take a collection from the audience, and with the money they buy music and pay their expenses. But the visitors here don’t often hire the band and they don’t get much money at their annual concert. And yet they keep up their band from year to year, and it’s a wonderfully good one for a country place.” + 

“The villagers are very musical and have some education,” said Madame Roggenfeldt. “They’ve even got their own theatre where the young people produce classical pieces quite passably.” + 

“Thanks very much,” replied the stranger. “But don’t you think they play very strangely?” + 

Agnes Rudolfovna blushed slightly, smiled a little, and said quietly: + 

“No, I don’t find it strange.” + 

“Nor I either,” said her husband. + 

“But,” insisted the stranger, “don’t you think that these people are just like wooden dolls and that they play without understanding the music just as in all probability they don’t understand anything of their beautiful surroundings?” + 

Agnes Rudolfovna shook her head as she answered: + 

“If they didn’t understand the music they couldn’t play so well.” + 

“No,” said the old professor, “their lack of understanding would be bound to show itself in their playing. And I think, or rather I am convinced, that they don’t make any mistakes. At least my ear doesn’t distinguish any false notes, and though I can’t call myself a musician I understand something about music and I play a little myself.” + 

Agnes Rudolfovna looked tenderly at her husband. + 

“Edward plays excellently,” said she. “He has a good touch and an irreproachable ear.” + 

Professor Roggenfeldt kissed his wife’s hand and said: + 

“Well, well, we won’t exaggerate. But they certainly play very accurately.” + 

“Accurately!” exclaimed the stranger. “It would be better if they made mistakes and confused the time, if only they didn’t play so soullessly. Don’t you think it would be better if these people didn’t play at all? Just look at them⁠—isn’t it dreadful to watch their wooden movements? The dancers are obliged to move stiffly and the children are as immovable as in a trance. Look, isn’t it as if some cruel devil had changed human beings into marionettes!” + 

Professor Roggenfeldt looked at the stranger in some perplexity, and then looking again at the musicians he said: + 

“I think you exaggerate a little. Of course it’s not a first-class band, and Nikish is not there to conduct, but I don’t think they deserve such a cruel attack.” + 

The stranger seemed a little confused. + 

“No, that’s true,” said he. “I was exaggerating. Please forgive me. You are quite right. But it’s dreadful to look upon these good devils. I must go away from such a sight.” + 

He raised his hat again, and, walking off quickly in the direction from which he had come, was soon out of sight. + 