enter trade on a basis of five hundred thousand roubles. ‘I have been a clerk, and as a clerk I wish to die. Now,’ he says, ‘I have become healthy and fresh; but formerly I had the bellyache, and dropsy was beginning to attack me. No more of it!’ says he. And he never tastes tea now; all he eats is cabbage soup and oatmeal porridge—yes, sir. And he prays as not one of the rest of us does, and he helps the poor as none of the rest of us do. And I should be glad to assist another man who has squandered his money.”

Poor Khlobuyoff became thoughtful.

The other man took him by both hands. “Semyon Semyonovitch,” said he, “if you only knew how sorry I am for you! I think of you constantly. Now listen to me. You are aware that, in the monastery, there is a hermit whom no one sees. This man is possessed of great wisdom—of more wisdom, sir, than anyone whom I know. Now, he can give proper advice. I once began to tell him that I had a certain friend—but I will not mention his name—and that he was suffering from such and such a cause. He began by listening to my talk; but all at once he interrupted me with the words, ‘God’s business takes the precedence of your own. There are churches to be built, and there is no money to do it; money must be collected for the churches!’ And then he clapped to the door. ‘What does that mean?’ I thought to myself. Evidently he did not mean to impart any advice, so I went to our archimandrite. No sooner had I entered the door, than the first words he addressed to me were in the form of an inquiry: did not I know of some man to whom could be intrusted the task of making a collection for the churches? He must belong to the gentry or merchant class, must be better educated than the average, and must regard the work as his salvation. I instantly paused. ‘Ah, good heavens! why, the hermit meant to designate Semyon Semyonovitch for this task! The remedy is adapted to his disease. By dint of going about with a book under his arm, from landed proprietor to peasant, from peasant to petty tradesman, he will learn how each class lives, and who stands in need of what—so that when he returns, after having made the tour of several governments, he will understand the ground and the country far better than all the people who dwell in towns.’ And such men are needed now. Here a certain prince informs me that he would give a great deal to get hold of a man who really knows affairs, not from papers, but as they really are; for, as he says, nothing can be gathered from papers, everything is so involved.”

“You have utterly confused and overcome me, Afanasiy Vasilievitch,” said Khlobuyoff, as he gazed in amazement at Murazoff. “I actually cannot believe that you are saying this to me. For your purpose you require an active man, of unwearied energy; and moreover, how can I desert my wife and children?”

“You must feel no anxiety with regard to your wife and children. I take them under my own protection, and teachers shall be provided for the children. If you are willing to go about with double pouches, begging alms for yourself, it is much more noble to do so for God. I will give you a simple kibitka: do not be afraid of being jolted; it will be of benefit to your health. I will furnish you with money for the journey, so that as you go along, you may give to those who stand most in need of it. In this way you can do a great deal of good. You must make no mistake; those to whom you give must be worthy persons. By travelling about in this manner, you will make the acquaintance of every sort of individual, and you will learn how each one lives. This is not the same thing as being an official whom everyone fears, but in your case, knowing that you are collecting for the Church, they will talk freely.”

“I perceive that it is a very beautiful scheme, and I should be very glad to have a share in it; but it really seems to me as though it were beyond my powers.”

“Well, what is within your powers?” said Murazoff. “There is nothing within our powers; everything is beyond our powers. Nothing is possible without aid from on high. Prayer concentrates the faculties. A man crosses himself, and says, ‘Lord, have mercy!’ then he rows on, and reaches the shore. One must not pause long to think of this; it is merely necessary to cling blindly to God. The kibitka will be ready for you immediately; and you must run to the father archimandrite for the book and his blessing, and then set out on your journey.”