This particular author was quite anti-Soviet and fled Russia for Finland when the Revolution occurred. A phrase at the story's end had me wondering whether he was trying to include Christian meaning into a story that doesn't really fit with the Christian interpretation of Scripture (Lazarus becomes a sort of gloomy sprectre of death among the living, although, the author notes, it was his good humor that had caused Jesus to enjoy being around him so much). Odd story. Thanks, though.