The party stopped to let the Frenchman see the pilgrims who, in accord with a popular Russian superstition, tramped about from place to place instead of working.
They spoke French, thinking that the others would not understand them.
“ Demandez-leur ,” said the Frenchman, “ s’ils sont bien sur de ce que leur pèlerinage est agréable à Dieu. ”
The question was asked, and one old woman replied:
“As God takes it. Our feet have reached the holy places, but our hearts may not have done so.”
They asked the soldier. He said that he was alone in the world and had nowhere else to go.
They asked Kasátsky who he was.
“A servant of God.”
“ Qu’est-ce qu’il dit? Il ne répond pas. ”
“ Il dit qu’il est un serviteur de Dieu. Cela doit être un fils de prêtre. Il a de la race. Avez-vous de la petite monnaie? ”
The Frenchman found some small change and gave twenty kopecks to each of the pilgrims.
“ Mais dites-leur que ce n’est pas pour les cierges que je leur donne, mais pour qu’ils se régalent de thé. Chay, chay pour vous, mon vieux! ” he said with a smile. And he patted Kasátsky on the shoulder with his gloved hand.
“May Christ bless you,” replied Kasátsky without replacing his cap and bowing his bald head.