14. The Object—And Afterwards

“Does he know how to defend Tchigurine?” she asked her good friend.

“Yes, if it is attacked, but our enemies can do much better than to take our cities by force.”

“But if they do attack it?”

“He will be killed rather than surrender.”

“I was sure of it,” said the little enthusiast, clapping her hands.

They did not go out by the same street which they had taken on entering.

Tchetchevik wished to see with his own eyes the appearance of the other quarters of the city.

It would have seemed deserted to a careless observer, but a hundred steps apart were powerful men, whom chance alone could not have thus placed in the very spots where they could watch everything. These men let them pass with a careless air, but very soon followed them, and returning on their path as if strolling about, were able, after all, to assure themselves that Tchetchevik went directly on his way. One of them, seeing the great height of the old singer, had come to look at him so close to his face that Maroussia trembled.

“He is bold, or perhaps thoughtless,” she said in a low voice to her good friend; “ he seems not to perceive danger any more than a fly.”

“He is a strange fellow,” Tchetchevik answered, “his intentions are not bad. The people of Tchigurine are of a good race, they go into battle as to a promenade.”

When our travelers reached the gate of the city, a giant Cossack, who seemed to arise out of the earth, presented himself before them. He had two leagues of mustaches, and he barred their way like a stone tower.

“What is your business, old man? ” he asked.

“That of honest men, my friend.”

“Where are you going?”

“To honest people.”

“Honest is a name which does not always belong to those who claim it. It may be that you will meet rogues.”

“If one were always afraid of wolves, one would never dare venture into the woods, and one would never taste strawberries.”

“If I were a bolder Cossack, my old friend, I should beg you to sing me a little song. It would give me great pleasure, for I adore singing, but I am more timid than a young bridegroom and I do not dare to insist.”