Book: Sphinx

My favorite topic of conversation was folk signs - at that time I was ready to prove their truth almost with foam at the mouth. We have had long and heated discussions on this subject; my friend argued that all this was just empty superstition, but I objected that the premonitions that arise in the people completely involuntarily - that is, without any specific reason - necessarily contain a grain of truth and undoubtedly deserve attention.

His serious philosophical mind was alien to baseless fantasies. Of course, real misfortunes depressed him, but he did not know the fear of their ominous signs.

Now I came in utter horror, thinking that the vision portends either my death, or, still worse, of impending insanity.