Oushakoff crossed one leg over the other, and looking up to the wall, saw a portrait of the then disgraced Archbishop Arsénia Matzaevitch, and thought to himself, “Ah! well, he sympathises with that scoundrel. I shall have to be very determined with him, very brusque!”
“I will not delay any longer,” said he. “This is what it is. His Grace, the commander-in-chief, desires your Right Reverence to take all the necessary vessels, and immediately, without any delay, to follow me … to a foreigner—of the Grecian Faith.…”
“But what is all this about?”
“To celebrate two Sacraments.”
“But which?”
“Excuse me, but is it necessary for you to know, beforehand?” answered Oushakoff. “There must be no hesitation. The orders come from high powers.”
“I must get everything ready,” answered the priest, “so I must know which.”
“First Baptism, then Confession, and Holy Communion,” answered Oushakoff.
“Now, in the night?”