– But how many time the lesson proceeded?

Wagner looked at the watch.

– Minutes two, no more. Isn’t that so, productive way of assimilation of knowledge?

– But allow – I exclaimed – and this glass window, these brackets on the earth!. – I gave a hand and suddenly became silent. The area of the yard was absolutely equal; there were neither brackets, nor glass round «window» … – So it… there was a hypnosis too?

– Well, certainly… Confess what you not really missed behind my lesson of physics? Fima – he shouted – coffee is ready? Idemte to have breakfast.

– Dez… I will not transfer its loss! Dez – my best friend… I am so lonely…

The citizen Shmeman wiped a lacy kerchief red weak-sighted eyes and a long nose.

– I assure you – it continued, having plaintively sobbed – that this work of professor Wagner. I saw more than once how it brought on a string of dogs into the apartment… What does it do with them? My God! I dread to think! Perhaps, my Dezi is dead… Take measures, I ask you!. If you do not make it, I will go to militia!. Dez, my poor baby!.

And madam Shmeman began to cry again… Her thin old cheeks became covered by red spots, the lower lip drooped.

Zhukov, the chairman of housing association, abruptly turned on a chair and clicked fingers. It lost patience.

– Calm down, the citizen! I assure you that we will take measures. And now, forgive… I am very busy…

Shmeman deeply sighed, bowed and left. Zhukov breathed a sigh of relief and turned back to the secretary of board Krotov:

– Faugh!. Exhausted! There are such annoying women!

– Yes … – Krotov thoughtfully responded. – Mischievous old woman! And case should be investigated. It is the fourth case of loss of dogs only on our yard. Neighbors complain too. What for a dog pestilence? I will not be surprised if really it turns out that dogs are stolen by professor Wagner. Only why the hell they are necessary to it? Does collars on a fur coat? Strange person! Suspicious person!

– Professor!

– That that professor? Perhaps, he clips the coin.

– From dogs?

– You do not laugh. There were cases! Dogs – special article. You pay attention: it has in the room all night long light. On a window curtain its shadow is often visible. Is unsteady about the room… Night-bird!

– Yes, strange person… The other day I go home by the tram. I look, professor Wagner opposite sits. According to the book holds in each hand and at once reads both. I in books glanced. One – the Russian, all figures different, and another – German. And here that surprisingly: each eye at it separately on lines runs: one eye reads one book, to others – another. The conductor approached it. «The ticket – says – take!» He on it raised one eye, and another in the book looks. She and gasped. And the public all stared at it. Look, mouths opened from surprise, and it though that…

– Perhaps, he went crazy?

– Everything is possible…

The door knocked. The room was entered by Fima, the old housekeeper of professor Wagner.

– Hello to you! My barin for the apartment sent money.

– There were bars and all left! – Zhukov told.

– Well, owner, perhaps, Wagner.

– And here she will tell us!.

– Tell us, Fima what your «barin» with dogs does.

Fima hopelessly waved a hand.

– It is a lot of dogs at it? Tell the truth!

– How many at it dogs, I cannot tell: it does not let me in the second room where they at it. And dogs are. It is heard as bark. At the night of times I spotted in a shchelochka. Well? The dog attached on a short collar sits. Cannot lay down. To sleep it, it is visible, death as there is a wish. The head and hangs. And he sits near yes it so tenderly under a neck tickles: does not allow to sleep. And he does not sleep. He never sleeps!