But before he was able to make up his mind, Ah Q had already begun to snore, while the flickering candle, which had burned down only about half an inch, lighted up his open mouth.
Suddenly he started up, looked around the room in fright, but the sight of the four-ounce candle reassured him and he fell back to sleep.
The next day he rose very late. On the street he found everything much the same as before. He felt hunger no less keenly. For a while he did not know what to do, then suddenly he made up his mind and started in the direction of the convent.
The convent, with its white walls and black gate, was as quiet as in the spring. After some hesitation, he knocked and was immediately answered by the menacing barks of the dog. Hastily arming himself with some broken bricks, he knocked again, a little more vigorously. But no one came to open it until he had made quite a number of pockmarks on the black door.
Hastily he got the bricks ready, assumed a fighting position, and prepared for the dog. The door opened only a crack, through which he saw the old nun. No dog rushed out.
"What have you come for?" she asked in astonishment.
"The revolution! Don't you know that?" Ah Q replied cryptically.
"Revolution, revolution! But we have had one already. How many times must you revolutionize us?" the old nun said pitifully.
"What did you say?" Ah Q was surprised in his turn.
"Don't you know that they have already been here and revolutionized us?"
