Once he was walking along with two old women and a soldier. They were stopped by a party consisting of a lady and gentleman in a gig and another lady and gentleman on horseback. The husband was on horseback with his daughter, while in the gig his wife was driving with a Frenchman, evidently a traveller.

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. ” 301

The question was asked, and one old woman replied: