Page:John Feoktist Dudikoff - Beasts in Cassocks (1924).djvu/96

 The next time I called at the Consistory with my wife and Father Ptashchuk on Friday, at 2 o'clock instead of 3, and asked to be announced to Platon or Alexander. We were told to wait. We waited until 3:30 then asked once more to be announced. The butler, on returning from the Bishop’s apartments, delivered this message: "The Master asks you to call to-morrow, because Father Richlov is not here, anr consequently you can get no audience." In spite of this answer, I asked my wife and Father Ptashchuk to wait with me. Soon Alexander appeared, accompanied by a priest. I asked for his blessing. Having noticed me, Alexander appeared frightened and jumped back. "Give me your blessing," I asked, to which he shouted in reply: "Go to the devil! No blessing for you!" and then added: "I have already sent word to you that Father Richlov is not here to-day, consequently, we cannot receive you. Call to-morrow. I have not and am not going to announce you to Metropolitan Platon. If you don't like the Book of Gospels, you may leave it here." I had hardly time to open my mouth, when he left the room.

The three of us then called on V. V. Buimistrov, at 350 West 87th Street. He first saw Father Ptashchuk, then inquired about my case, and promised to look into it. He told us to come for his decision on Tuesday. On Tuesday, when we called, he did not receive us in person, but sent his secretary to us, who brought this message: "We have investigated the matter of your money and confession. It was not Mearopolitan [sic] Platon who procured the confession off you, but Alexander and Father Richlov. Your confession is in Platon's hands, and if you want it returner, take back the $200.00 and cease making other demands.

I told him that I was rather to receive and not to return money. We proceeded to the Consistory, and asked to be announced to the Metropolitan or to Alexander. We were told that the Metropolitan was not receiving anybody and that Alexander had lefi [sic] for Brooklyn.