'shut, thoughitlookedlikeachapel, foritcontainedanextraordinarynumberofikonswithlampsperpetuallyburningbeforethem— (andindeeditwastrue) , wholivedclosebytheapiary, usedtobringhimthebreadeverythreedays, andeventothismanwhowaiteduponhim, , togetherwiththesacramentbread, regularlysenthimonSundaysafterthelatemassbytheFatherSuperior, , hewasbrief, abrupt, strange, , however, hewouldtalktovisitors, butforthemostparthewoulduttersomeonestrangesayingwhichwasacompleteriddle, , , chieflyhoweveramongthemostignorant, thatFatherFeraponthadcommunicationwithheavenlyspiritsandwouldonlyconversewiththem, andsowassilentwithmen.
ThemonkfromObdorsk, havingbeendirectedtotheapiarybythebeekeeper, whowasalsoaverysilentandsurlymonk, wenttothecornerwhereFatherFerapont'scellstood."Maybehewillspeakasyouareastrangerandmaybeyou'llgetnothingoutofhim," , asherelatedafterwards, .
"Doyouwantmetobowdowntoyou, monk?" saidFatherFerapont."Getup!"
Themonkgotup.
"Blessing, beblessed! ?"
Whatmoststruckthepoormonkwasthefactthatinspiteofhisstrictfastingandgreatage, , heldhimselferect, andhadathin, , andstillhadverythickhairandafullbeard, , largeandluminous, 'slongreddishcoatofcoarseconvictcloth (asitusedtobecalled) , hisshirtofthecoarsestlinenshowedalmostblackwithdirt, .
"FromthelittleObdorskmonastery, ," themonkansweredhumbly, whilsthiskeenandinquisitive, butratherfrightenedlittleeyeskeptwatchonthehermit.
"IhavebeenatyourSylvester'?"
Themonkhesitated.
"Youareasenselesslot! Howdoyoukeepthefasts?"
