Mr. Stayne? Are you here?

Ah, I see you learned my name already.

Well, I did make some inquiries; besides, it would be bad form to call you Nobody...Er...nice to see you again...

I'm not nice! I'm evil.

Oh, that's really not a problem! Nice people are seldom of interest for me. As for your being evil, which is at best disputable (спорный вопрос)...

If you spent all this time in Underland, you must have learned by now much more than my name...

Oh, I certainly have! Unfortunately – or fortunately – my opinion about a person is never based on other people's judgments. Besides, it is so easy to be evil, isn't it?

Easy? What do you mean?

I mean that to be good is much more difficult. You need to make an effort for that, and more often quite a number of efforts. To break the habit of telling lies, for example, you need years – sometimes even decades- and to learn to swear you need but one evening... Do you see the point now?

You weren't in great hurry to get here again...

Beg pardon, sir, but I couldn't make it earlier. Don't forget that I am here a stranger in a strange land. I needed to make some research, to make contacts...at least to find shelter and food, for instance! However, I didn't forget about you.

As if you cared...

Well , I do – a little...

I don't . You are rather too small for my liking. And you ask too many questions.

Size has nothing to do with a person's true value, Mr. Stayne. You should have learned that by now.

This is a jail, not a school.

It doesn't matter, since you have got a schoolmistress in front of you! As for my height, I find it quite convenient. Not so painful to fall down, you know...And no temptation to look down at others, either.

Is that so? I heard, on the contrary, that small people crave for power much more than the tall do...

In this case, Mr. Stayne, I believe we are both exceptions to the rules...And I dare say we have one more thing in common - having been laughed at while at school because of the height, am I right?

Perhaps you are.

So, in spite of your untoward remarks, sir , I'm perfectly happy with my height. As for yours, I'm afraid it didn't bring you much happiness, considering our current place of conversation...

Have you brought anything to eat tonight?

You are a born diplomat, Mr. Stayne. Yes, I did bring you something. But I need to have a look at your wound first.

Wound? What wound are you talking about?

The one on your right arm. And pray don't pretend you are alright – I am a nurse, not a lady-in-waiting!

NO! Don't!

Then you won't have your supper, let alone the dessert.. Goodnight, sir...

WAIT!

Pardon?

Hey…what's your name...Wilhelmina!

Yes, Mr. Stayne?

I've changed my mind.

About what, may I ask?

About your treatment.

That's a good boy! I do hope you change your mind about other subjects by and by...Now, what we are having here...