There is cholera, too, sometimes." "What a delightful country," I said to myself, "for a young doctor who wishes to make discoveries in the science of disease!" The catalogue of diseases inhabiting this favoured region was apparently not yet complete, but it was cut short for the moment by the arrival of the assistant, with the announcement that his superior was wanted.
This first interview with the feldsher was, on the whole, satisfactory.
He had not rendered me any medical assistance, but he had helped me to pass an hour pleasantly, and had given me a little information of the kind I desired.

My later interviews with him were equally agreeable.

He was naturally an intelligent, observant man, who had seen a great deal of the Russian world, and could describe graphically what he had seen.
Unfortunately the horizontal position to which I was condemned prevented me from noting down at the time the interesting things which he related to me.

His visits, together with those of Karl Karl'itch and of the priest, who kindly spent a great part of his time with me, helped me to while away many an hour which would otherwise have been dreary enough.
During the intervals when I was alone I devoted myself to reading--sometimes Russian history and sometimes works of fiction.

The history was that of Karamzin, who may fairly be called the Russian Livy.
It interested me much by the facts which it contained, but irritated me not a little by the rhetorical style in which it is written.