Excuse me, those who want it, or those who don't want it?
For one must know that definitely," cried two or three voices.
"Those who don't want it--those who _don't_ want it." "Yes, but what is one to do, hold up one's hand or not hold it up if one doesn't want it ?" cried an officer.
"Ech, we are not accustomed to constitutional methods yet!" remarked the major.
"Mr.Lyamshin, excuse me, but you are thumping so that no one can hear anything," observed the lame teacher.
"But, upon my word, Arina Prohorovna, nobody is listening, really!" cried Lyamshin, jumping up.

"I won't play! I've come to you as a visitor, not as a drummer!" "Gentlemen," Virginsky went on, "answer verbally, are we a meeting or not ?" "We are! We are!" was heard on all sides.

"If so, there's no need to vote, that's enough.

Are you satisfied, gentlemen?
Is there any need to put it to the vote ?" "No need--no need, we understand." "Perhaps some one doesn't want it to be a meeting ?" "No, no; we all want it." "But what does 'meeting' mean ?" cried a voice.

No one answered.
"We must choose a chairman," people cried from different parts of the room.
"Our host, of course, our host!" "Gentlemen, if so," Virginsky, the chosen chairman, began, "I propose my original motion.