One of Chekhov's letters in which he wrote about Tolstoy and his concern for his deteriorating health at the same time that Chekhov suffered a marked deterioration in health:

To MA Manchikov
"... I am afraid that Tolstoy will die .. If he dies, he will leave a huge void in my life .. First of all because I never loved a man as much as my love for Tolstoy ... I am not a believer, but all I believe in are beliefs that The closest people to my heart ..
Secondly, with Tolstoy in the world of literature, it is reassuring and beautiful to be a writer, so that you feel that you have not written something of value that is not frightening, because you know that Tolstoy will write what is enough for us all. His actions are the only justification for the enthusiasm, Literary works ..
Thirdly: Tolstoy has a very strong position and great power. As long as he is alive, the bad taste of literature and the vulgarity of every kind, the insolence of speech, anger and vanity will remain far behind ... in the shadows ... Only his moral power is able to maintain On a certain rise in the alleged literary moods and tendencies.
Without him ... they will become herds without a shepherd ... or a mixture without landmarks where it will be difficult to distinguish anything "