.. One day, a figure appeared on the threshold of his apartment — insanely important, respected, beloved by everyone. Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov!
We kissed, a couple of polite questions about health… And the legendary collector and philanthropist gets down to business — examining the painting.
He watched for a long time. He stood, then sat down, then got up again... and so on for almost an hour. Occasionally he made comments, not always on the case. Finally he said:
"Levitan's paintings are good. Very good…
And then suddenly he asked:
"Can you give up the Hermit for my gallery?"
Can he give in?! It was his cherished dream! I wanted to scream and dance with joy. "Can you give in?!"
Marveling at his own external restraint, Mikhail said:
— I can.
— What do you want for her?
Nothing. If only she would stand next to the paintings of Perov, Kramskoy, Repin, Surikov, Vasnetsov, and others!.. If only they would take the painting!
— Five hundred rubles…
Crazy, crazy! Now they will say "expensive" and...
— I leave the picture behind me. See you.