202
The Candle.
Catherine, pour out a glass of vodki to give him courage!"
After drinking to the health of his superior, the elder said to himself: "It is not my fault if they do not praise him. I shall tell him the truth." Then turning suddenly to the superintendent he said:
"They complain, Michael Simeonovitch! They complain bitterly."
"But what did they say?" demanded Michael. "Tell me!"
"Well, one thing they said was, 'He does not believe in God.'"
Michael laughed. "Who said that?" he asked.
"It seemed to be their unanimous opinion. 'He has been overcome by the Evil One,' they said."
"Very good," laughed the superintendent; "but tell me what each of them said. What did Vasili say?"
The elder did not wish to betray his people,
