Page:Leo Tolstoi - Life Is Worth Living and Other Stories - tr. Adolphus Norraikow (1892).djvu/28

 Rh is your destination? Where I go it matters not to me."

As Simeon talked with the mysterious stranger his surprise continued to increase. He thought to himself: "This does not look like a man bent on mischief. Although he speaks very pleasantly, he refuses to say anything concerning himself. Yet many strange things are happening every day in this wicked world." Then turning to the man he said:

"Well, I will take you to my house, where you can warm yourself and have a good test."

At length Simeon reached his home, with the stranger at his side. The wind was blowing cold, and the shoemaker felt that the effect of the vodki was passing off, for he began to tremble like a leaf. Buttoning his wife's jacket more securely around him, he thought to himself: "This is the fur coat you were going after, and you are returning home without even a kaftan. You are bringing instead a naked man,