The slave is running out of breath now because Mistress Anfisa is determined to push him to his limits. She presses both hands over his face and takes away his oxygen, at first for only a short time , but then for longer and longer, her hands pressed hard over his mouth and nose. No matter how much he writhes under Mistress Anfisa, her hands remain firmly on his face. The slave becomes more and more panicky, because even the last little bit of air he has left in his lungs is about to run out!