“ Ah, c’est vous! ” said Pétya. “ Voulez-vous manger? N’ayez pas peur, on ne vous fera pas de mal ,” 117 he added shyly and affectionately, touching the boy’s hand. “ Entrez, entrez. ” 118

“ Merci, monsieur ,” 119 said the drummer boy in a trembling almost childish voice, and he began scraping his dirty feet on the threshold.