Poor Uncle Seva. He is having to study the Gospels because that is what Masha wants. “Oh yes, of course, I almost forgot, the wedding!” He invites him, laughing: “Well, perhaps you’ll hold the royal crown over my head for me.” Right now, however, there is some fast. The Professor is fasting for the first time in his life. At night they read the Acts of the Apostles together. No, seriously. The Professor quotes ecstatically. “This is from St Peter, the second epistle, ‘shall utterly perish in their own corruption’. Or look here, here, St Peter again, ‘He that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin’. And John, John! ‘Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer’. Well? How that is expressed!” Then, indignantly, “What sort of idiocy is it not believe in God! What kind of overweening pr
