His servant was also a yellow, wrinkled old man, without beard or mustache, evidently not because he was shaven but because they had never grown.

This active old servant was unpacking the traveler's canteen and preparing tea.

He brought in a boiling samovar.

When everything was ready, the stranger opened his eyes, moved to the table, filled a tumbler with tea for himself and one for the beardless old man to whom he passed it.