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224 The Gospel in Dostoyevskyin our great people, their true and seemly dignity. I’ve seen itmyself, I can testify to it. I’ve seen it and marveled at it; I’ve seenit in spite of the degraded sins and poverty-stricken appearanceof our peasantry. They are not servile, and even after two centuriesof serfdom they are free in manner and bearing, yet withoutinsolence and not revengeful, not envious. “You are rich andnoble, you are clever and talented – well be so, God bless you. Irespect you, but I know that I too am a man. By the very fact thatI respect you without envy I prove my dignity as a man.”In truth, even if they don’t say this (for they don’t know howto say this yet), that is how they act. I have seen it myself, I haveknown it myself, and would you believe it, the poorer our Russianpeasant is, the more noticeable is that serene goodness, for therich among them are for the most part corrupted already, andmuch of that is due to our carelessness and indifference. But Godwill save his people, for Russia is great in her humility. I dream ofseeing our future and seem already to see it clearly. It will cometo pass that even the most corrupt of our rich will end by beingashamed of his riches before the poor, and the poor, seeing hishumility, will understand and give way before him, will respondjoyfully and kindly to his honorable shame. Believe me that itwill end in that; things are moving to that. Equality is to be foundonly in the spiritual dignity of man, and that will be understoodonly among us. If we were brothers, there would be fraternity, butuntil then they will never agree about the division of wealth. Wepreserve the image of Christ, and it will shine forth like a preciousdiamond to the whole world. So may it be, so may it be!Fathers and teachers, a touching incident befell me once. Inmy wanderings I met in the town of K. my old orderly, Afanasy.It was eight years since I had parted from him. He chanced to see