I was often told by my friends when we were sitting near the fire and I was lighting my cigarette from a lighter :"The one who light a cigarette from a lighter near a fire is a spy". I don't know how old this expression, but I can guess the logic of it. It's something like: "Only dumb westerners can do such things, they are overcivilized, they can't imagine their life without WC and toilet paper, and such an easy thing that you can use a fire to light a cigarette instead of lighter will never come to their minds". Of course it's complete foolishness, but this is one of the many russian prejudices about west like westerners believe in bears on the streets of russian cities . There is also some superstition about lighting a cigarette from matches or lighter near a fire. But I'm too lazy for that: you must find some stick first, then put it into the fire and wait while it start to burn and then use it with a risk to burn you eyebrows and eyelashes. I think that to put a hand into a pocket and use a lighter is far more easier.Originally Posted by rockzmom
So you are right, in this case it was Stirlitz's weakness and he even could fail as a spy, because he demonstrated his russian nature.
Translation is correct and literal. Stirlits is talking with the border gate officer and the border gate is located in Alpes, so it was much snow around. And "blue" means that snow is very clear. You will see the snow when he will return here with pastor.What does the expression "In this snow-blue world" mean?
Is it the correct English translation for what is being said?