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〃Oh； cease your pretence to be religious！ Oh； stop all this humbug of
religion！ As if I did not know that you believe neither in God nor Devil。〃
〃I consider it beneath my dignity to talk to a man like you；〃 said Father
Michael； very much hurt by Smokovnikov's last words； the more so
because he knew they were true。
Michael Vedensky carried on his studies in the academy for priests；
and that is why； for a long time past； he ceased to believe in what he
confessed to be his creed and in what he preached from the pulpit； he only
knew that men ought to force themselves to believe in what he tried to
make himself believe。
Smokovnikov was not shocked by Father Michael's conduct； he only
thought it illustrative of the influence the Church was beginning to
exercise on society； and he told all his friends how his son had been
insulted by the priest。
Seeing not only young minds； but also the elder generation；
contaminated by atheistic tendencies； Father Michael became more and
more convinced of the necessity of fighting those tendencies。 The more he
condemned the unbelief of Smokovnikov； and those like him； the more
confident he grew in the firmness of his own faith； and the less he felt the
need of making sure of it； or of bringing his life into harmony with it。 His
faith； acknowledged as such by all the world around him； became Father
Michael's very best weapon with which to fight those who denied it。
The thoughts aroused in him by his conflict with Smokovnikov；
together with the annoyance of being blamed by his chiefs in the school；
made him carry out the purpose he had entertained ever since his wife's
deathof taking monastic orders； and of following the course carried out
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THE FORGED COUPONAnd Other Stories
by some of his fellow…pupils in the academy。 One of them was already a
bishop； another an archimandrite and on the way to become a bishop。
At the end of the term Michael Vedensky gave up his post in the
school； took orders under the name of Missael； and very soon got a post as
rector in a seminary in a town on the river Volga。
XIII
MEANWHILE the yard…porter Vassily was marching on the open road
down to the south。
He walked in daytime； and when night came some policeman would
get him shelter in a peasant's cottage。 He was given bread everywhere；
and sometimes he was asked to sit down to the evening meal。 In a village
in the Orel district； where he had stayed for the night； he heard that a
merchant who had hired the landowner's orchard for the season； was
looking out for strong and able men to serve as watchmen for the fruit…
crops。 Vassily was tired of tramping； and as he had also no desire whatever
to go back to his native village； he went to the man who owned the
orchard； and got engaged as watchman for five roubles a month。
Vassily found it very agreeable to live in his orchard shed； and all the
more so when the apples and pears began to grow ripe； and when the men
from the barn supplied him every day with large bundles of fresh straw
from the threshing machine。 He used to lie the whole day long on the
fragrant straw； with fresh； delicately smelling apples in heaps at his side；
looking out in every direction to prevent the village boys from stealing
fruit； and he used to whistle and sing meanwhile； to amuse himself。 He
knew no end of songs； and had a fine voice。 When peasant women and
young girls came to ask for apples； and to have a chat with him； Vassily
gave them larger or smaller apples according as he liked their looks； and
received eggs or money in return。 The rest of the time he had nothing to do；
but to lie on his back and get up for his meals in the kitchen。 He had
only one shirt left； one of pink cotton； and that was in holes。 But he was
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THE FORGED COUPONAnd Other Stories
strongly built and enjoyed excellent health。 When the kettle with black
gruel was taken from the stove and served to the working men； Vassily
used to eat enough for three； and filled the old watchman on the estate
with unceasing wonder。 At nights Vassily never slept。 He whistled or
shouted from time to time to keep off thieves； and his piercing； cat…like
eyes saw clearly in the darkness。
One night a company of young lads from the village made their way
stealthily to the orchard to shake down apples from the trees。 Vassily；
coming noiselessly from behind； attacked them； they tried to escape； but
he took one of them prisoner to his master。
Vassily's first shed stood at the farthest end of the orchard； but after the
pears had been picked he had to remove to another shed only forty paces
away from the house of his master。 He liked this new place very much。
The whole day long he could see the young ladies and gentlemen enjoying
themselves； going out for drives in the evenings and quite late at nights；
playing the piano or the violin； and singing and dancing。 He saw the ladies
sitting with the young students on the window sills； engaged in animated
conversation； and then going in pairs to walk the dark avenue of lime trees；
lit up only by streaks of moonlight。 He saw the servants running about
with food and drink； he saw the cooks； the stewards； the laundresses； the
gardeners； the coachmen； hard at work to supply their masters with food
and drink and constant amusement。 Sometimes the young people from the
master's house came to the shed； and Vassily offered them the choicest
apples； juicy and red。 The young ladies used to take large bites out of the
apples on the spot； praising their taste； and spoke French to one another
Vassily quite understood it was all about himand asked Vassily to sing
for them。
Vassily felt the greatest admiration for his master's mode of living；
which reminded him of what he had seen in Moscow； and he became more
and more convinced that the only thing that mattered in life was money。
He thought and thought how to get