Not “ I am a stranger,” but “ we are strangers.” A Russian is hardly ever alone. If he is doing something wrong, he may perhaps say “I”; otherwise it is always “we” the family, “we” the artél , “we” the Commune.

“Strangers? Where do you come from?”

“We are from Kaloúga.”

I point to his pipe. “And how much do you spend a year on smoking? Three or more roubles, I daresay!”

“Three? That would hardly be enough.”

“Why not give it up?”

“How can one give it up when one’s accustomed to it?”