"Having finished the story, he read it to [me and Nikolai Pavlovich], then Chekhov's younger brother Mikhail hurried to the Nikolayevsky railway station to send it to [Novoye Vremya] with an express train," he wrote in his memoirs.
With the new title and numerous stylistic edits, and now devoid of Oriental motifs, which were originally present, it made its way into the charitable collection "For the Victims of Crop Failure", published by the Courier newspaper in 1899.
The old man likes to play the organ, write music and compose Latin verses but is famous most of all for his eloquence and fiery, inspirational monologues which leave everybody around him enchanted.
The guest's speech sounds offensive, but the abbot sees the point and suggests that he makes a trip to the town himself.
Back from his cell, he tells them the appalling story of the sin raging in the town, its people indulging in all manner of pleasures, drinking wine, visiting brothels, watching lustful harlots dancing on tables.