I willingly granted the request. The host took from the shelf of a
closet a bottle and a glass, and going up to him, looking him full
in the face, said:

"Ah! ah! here you are again in our district. Whence has God brought
you?"

My guide winked in the most significant fashion and replied by the
well-know proverb: "'The sparrow was in the orchard eating flax-seed;
the grandmother threw a stone at it, and missed.'" And you? how are
all yours?"

"How are we?" said the host, and continuing in proverbs: "'They began
to ring the bell for Vespers, but the priest's wife forbade it. The
priest went visiting, and the devils are in the graveyard.'"

"Be silent, uncle," said the vagabond.

"'When there shall be rain, there will be mushrooms, and when there
shall be mushrooms, there will be a basket to put them in. Put thy
hatchet behind thy back, the forest guard is out walking.'"

"To your lordship's health." Taking the glass, he made the sign of
the cross, and at one gulp swallowed his brandy. He then saluted
me and remounted to his loft. I did not understand a word of this
thief's slang. It was only in the sequel that I learned that they
spoke of the affairs of the army of the Iaik, which had just been
reduced to obedience after the revolt of 1772. Saveliitch listened
and glanced suspiciously from host to guide.