Page:Leskov - The Sentry and other Stories.djvu/278

 262 "Why can't he be trusted?"

"Because the priest forgives him his sins, Bachka."

"Well, and what is there wrong in that? What, is it better to remain without forgiveness?"

"How can one remain without forgiveness, Bachka? That's impossible, Bachka, one must ask forgiveness."

"Well, then, I don't understand you; what are you talking about?"

"This is what I say, Bachka: a baptized man will steal, and tell the priest, and the priest, Bachka, will forgive him; and therefore people won't trust him, Bachka."

"What nonsense you are talking! And this, of course, you think is not right."

"This, we think, doesn't do for us, Bachka."

"How ought it to be to your thinking?"

"In this way, Bachka, if you have stolen from anybody, take the thing back to him, and ask for forgiveness; if the man forgives, God forgives too."

"Yes, but the priest is a man also, why can't he forgive?"

"Why should he not forgive, Bachka? The priest can also forgive. If he had stolen from the priest, Bachka, the priest can forgive."

"But if he had stolen from another, then he can't forgive?"