The Devil

Towards the end of 1880, when he was fifty-two, Tolstoy one day approached the young tutor who lived in his house at Yasnaya Polyana, and in great agitation asked him to do him a service. The tutor, seeing Tolstoy so moved, asked what he could possibly do for him. In an unready voice Tolstoy replied: "Save me, I am falling!" The tutor, in alarm, inquired what was the matter, to which Tolstoy replied: "I am overcome by sexual desire and feel a complete lack of power to retrain myself. I am in danger of yielding to the temptation. Help me!""I am a weak man myself," replied the tutor. "How can I help you?""You can, if only you won't refuse!""But what must I do to help you?""This! Come with me on my daily walks. We will go out together and talk, and the temptation will not occur to me."