Page:Leskov - The Sentry and other Stories.djvu/208

 192 Our respected host had remained profoundly silent during this conversation; he sat in his large arm-chair, with a plaid over his legs, and seemed to be thinking of quite other things, but when B. ceased speaking the old ecclesiastic sighed and said:

"It appears to me, gentlemen, that you are wrong in controverting the Captain's opinion. I think he is right: the foreign missionaries will certainly have great success here in Russia."

"I am very happy, Vladyko, that you share my opinion," answered Captain B., and after paying several becoming and delicate compliments to the Archbishop on his well-known intelligence, culture, and nobility of character, he continued:

"Your Eminence knows better than I do the defects of the Russian Church; there are, of course, many wise and good men to be found among the clergy—I do not wish to contest this—but they scarcely understand Christ. Their position—and other reasons—obliges them to explain everything in too narrow a manner "

The Archbishop looked at him, smiled and answered:

"Yes, Captain, my modesty would not be offended if I admit that perhaps I know the