I gave it to him. He lighted it and looked laughingly at the surprised women. A murmur of dissatisfaction ran through the hut.
“Do you suck that?” asked the young woman spitefully.
“Of course.... According to the Scriptures, it is permitted.”
“In what part?—teach us, please.”
He smoked on and then he threw the cigarette over the heads of the women into a basin of water.
“He’s thrown it away,” said the hostess, fussing around the samovar.
“Don’t throw it away, fool; you’ll set the place on fire,” interrupted another.
“Afire? If the well won’t stop that, you’d better put out the fire in the kitchen.”
“What are you thinking of? Everything is done nowadays. Even the priests smoke.”
“Of course, of course. You’ve a voice like a bell. You ought to be in a convent choir. Come with me.”