Dialogue to the Seventh Russian Edition, 1913
“My soul, why are you thus dismayed?”
“Because of the hate that surrounds the name of the author of The Little Demon. Many people who disagree upon other things are agreed on this.”
“Accept the malice and the abuse submissively.”
“But is not our labour worthy of gratitude? Why then this hate?”
“This hate is rather like fear. You waken the conscience too loudly, you are too frank.”
“But isn’t there some use in my truth?”
“You want compliments! But this is not Paris.”
“Oh, no, it is not Paris!”
“My soul, you are a true Parisienne, a child of European civilisation. You have come in a charming dress and in light sandals to a place where they wear smocks and greased boots. Do not be astonished if the greased boot sometimes steps rudely on your tender foot. Its possessor is an honest fellow.”
“But what a morose, what an awkward fellow!”