He felt himself; everything seemed to be all right and in its place, his stomach was even protruding. He examined himself in a looking-glass, and saw that he had eyes, ears, and everything else that a serious man should have. He counted his fingers: there were ten right enough, and ten toes on his feet; but still he had an uncomfortable feeling that something was missing.
He was sadly puzzled.
He asked his wife:
"What do you think, Mitrodora? Is everything about me in order?"
She answered reassuringly:
"Everything."
"But sometimes it seems to me——"
She was a religious woman and advised him:
"Whenever you begin to imagine anything, recite mentally: 'Let God arise and his enemies will fall.'"
He questioned his friends also, in a roundabout way. They answered evasively, but looked at him suspiciously, as though he merited strong condemnation.