Page:Leskov - The Sentry and other Stories.djvu/256

 240 be of use, and notwithstanding your wishes I will send you to baptize."

Kiriak became frightfully agitated and perturbed.

"Good gracious, Vladyko, why do you wish to force me? Christ will forbid it. Nothing will come of it, nothing, nothing, nothing!"

"Why should it be so?"

"It is so, because the door is closed to us."

"Who closed it?"

"He who has the Key of David: 'he that openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth.' Or have you forgotten the Apocalypse?"

"Kiriak, too many books will make you foolish."

"No, Vladyko, I am not foolish, but if you do not listen to me, you will wrong many people and give offence to the Holy Ghost, and the ecclesiastical office will rejoice that in their reports they will be able to boast and tell more lies."

I ceased listening to him, but did not renounce the idea of being able to overcome his whim, and send him after all. But what do you think happened? It was not only the simple-hearted Amos of the Old Testament who suddenly began to prophesy, while picking berries—my friend Kiriak had also prophesied and his words, "Christ will forbid it," began to be fulfilled. At that very time, as if on purpose, I received a notification from