The fellow took no notice of what was said or shrieked behind him, but dragged his struggling burden grimly on towards his troika, a three-horsed carriage, which stood in the road.
Then I stepped forward and took up a position in front of the carriage so that approach to it was barred by my body.
Rachmanof cursed and bade me get out of the way.
‘I will let you pass when you have assured me of your right to take away this lady!’ I said.
‘She is my sister,’ he cried, ‘and as for right, who in the devil’s name are you that question me?’
‘I am one who will at any rate have an answer when I ask for information,’ I said. ‘Put the girl down and let us hear what you have to say.’
The older nun, shivering on the doorstep, cried out: ‘Well done, good Cossack; be brave, for you act in God’s service. This fellow would carry his sister to the Tsar’s terem that she may be inspected among those who are candidates in the bride-choosing, she being one who has entered the exclusive service of Christ, having withdrawn from the world and its wickedness.’
‘It’s a lie!’ cried Rachmanof. ‘She escaped from home but a week since in order to avoid her duty as a Russian maiden—namely, to offer herself for the Tsar’s consideration. She is no nun, her hair is unshorn; she is but a postulant, and has no rights such as this old hag claims for her. Therefore you, sir, whosoever you may be, move yourself out of my way, or it may be that you shall go back among your Cossacks limping.’
‘Put her down,’ I said, ‘and let her go back whence she came. Shame upon you to use force with her! It is an accursed thing to tear a maiden from the service of Christ, if she would so devote herself.’
‘At any rate, it is not your business, but mine; she is not your sister. This is a family matter: it is my father’s wish that she should return to her home, and the Regent’s command that she should attend the bride-choosing, though why I take the trouble to tell thee, Heaven knows. Come, out of my way! I grow weary of carrying this fool of a girl.’