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Eugene Mihailovich did not hand him over to the
police； but dismissed him on the spot。
Vassily had no wish whatever to return home
to his village； and remained in Moscow with his
sweetheart； looking out for a new job。 He got
one as yard…porter at a grocer's； but with only
small wages。 The next day after he had entered
that service he was caught stealing bags。 The
grocer did not call in the police； but gave him a
good thrashing and turned him out。 After that
he could not find work。 The money he had left
was soon gone； he had to sell all his clothes and
went about nearly in rags。 His sweetheart left
him。 But notwithstanding； he kept up his high
spirits； and when the spring came he started to
walk home。
IX
PETER NIKOLAEVICH SVENTIZKY； a short man in
black spectacles （he had weak eyes； and was
threatened with complete blindness）； got up； as
was his custom； at dawn of day； had a cup of tea；
and putting on his short fur coat trimmed with
astrachan； went to look after the work on his es…
tate。
Peter Nikolaevich had been an official in the
Customs； and had gained eighteen thousand rou…
bles during his service。 About twelve years ago
he quitted the servicenot quite of his own ac…
cord： as a matter of fact he had been compelled
to leaveand bought an estate from a young
land…owner who had dissipated his fortune。 Peter
Nikolaevich had married at an earlier period；
while still an official in the Customs。 His wife；
who belonged to an old noble family； was an
orphan； and was left without money。 She was
a tall； stoutish； good…looking woman。 They had
no children。 Peter Nikolaevich had considerable
practical talents and a strong will。 He was the
son of a Polish gentleman； and knew nothing
about agriculture and land management； but
when he acquired an estate of his own； he man…
aged it so well that after fifteen years the waste
piece of land； consisting of three hundred acres；
became a model estate。 All the buildings； from
the dwelling…house to the corn stores and the shed
for the fire engine were solidly built； had iron
roofs； and were painted at the right time。 In the
tool house carts； ploughs； harrows； stood in per…
fect order； the harness was well cleaned and oiled。
The horses were not very big； but all home…bred；
grey； well fed； strong and devoid of blemish。
The threshing machine worked in a roofed
barn； the forage was kept in a separate shed； and
a paved drain was made from the stables。 The
cows were home…bred； not very large； but giving
plenty of milk； fowls were also kept in the poultry
yard； and the hens were of a special kind； laying
a great quantity of eggs。 In the orchard the fruit
trees were well whitewashed and propped on poles
to enable them to grow straight。 Everything was
looked aftersolid； clean； and in perfect order。
Peter Nikolaevich rejoiced in the perfect condi…
tion of his estate； and was proud to have achieved
itnot by oppressing the peasants； but； on the
contrary； by the extreme fairness of his dealings
with them。
Among the nobles of his province he belonged
to the advanced party； and was more inclined to
liberal than conservative views； always taking the
side of the peasants against those who were still
in favour of serfdom。 〃Treat them well； and
they will be fair to you；〃 he used to say。 Of
course； he did not overlook any carelessness on
the part of those who worked on his estate； and
he urged them on to work if they were lazy； but
then he gave them good lodging； with plenty of
good food； paid their wages without any delay；
and gave them drinks on days of festival。
Walking cautiously on the melting snowfor
the time of the year was FebruaryPeter Nikol…
aevich passed the stables； and made his way to
the cottage where his workmen were lodged。
It was still dark； the darker because of the dense
fog； but the windows of the cottage were lighted。
The men had already got up。 His intention was
to urge them to begin work。 He had arranged
that they should drive out to the forest and bring
back the last supply of firewood he needed before
spring。
〃What is that？〃 he thought； seeing the door
of the stable wide open。 〃Hallo； who is there？〃
No answer。 Peter Nikolaevich stepped into
the stable。 It was dark； the ground was soft
under his feet； and the air smelt of dung； on the
right side of the door were two loose boxes for
a pair of grey horses。 Peter Nikolaevich
stretched out his hand in their directionone
box was empty。 He put out his footthe horse
might have been lying down。 But his foot did
not touch anything solid。 〃Where could they
have taken the horse？〃 he thought。 They cer…
tainly had not harnessed it； all the sledges stood
still outside。 Peter Nikolaevich went out of the
stable。
〃Stepan； come here！〃 he called。
Stepan was the head of the workmen's gang。
He was just stepping out of the cottage。
〃Here I am！〃 he said； in a cheerful voice。
〃Oh； is that you； Peter Nikolaevich？ Our men
are coming。〃
〃Why is the stable door open？
〃Is it？ I don't know anything about it。 I
say； Proshka； bring the lantern！〃
Proshka came with the lantern。 They all went
to the stable； and Stepan knew at once what had
happened。
〃Thieves have been here； Peter Nikolaevich；〃
he said。 〃The lock is broken。〃
〃No； you don't say so！〃
〃Yes； the brigands！ I don't see 'Mashka。'
'Hawk' is here。 But 'Beauty' is not。 Nor yet
'Dapple…grey。'〃
Three horses had been stolen！
Peter Nikolaevich did not utter a word at first。
He only frowned and took deep breaths。
〃Oh；〃 he said after a while。 〃If only I could
lay hands on them！ Who was on guard？〃
〃Peter。 He evidently fell asleep。〃
Peter Nikolaevich called in the police； and
making an appeal to all the authorities； sent his
men to track the thieves。 But the horses were
not to be found。
〃Wicked people；〃 said Peter Nikolaevich。
〃How could they！ I was always so kind to
them。 Now； wait！ Brigands！ Brigands the
whole lot of them。 I will no longer be kind。〃
X
IN the meanwhile the horses； the grey ones； had
all been disposed of； Mashka was sold to the gip…
sies for eighteen roubles； Dapple…grey was ex…
changed for another horse； and passed over to
another peasant who lived forty miles away from
the estate； and Beauty died on the way。 The man
who conducted the whole affair wasIvan Mi…
ronov。 He had been employed on the estate； and
knew all the whereabouts of Peter Nikolaevich。
He wanted to get back the money he had lost； and
stole the horses for that reason。
After his misfortune with the forged coupon；
Ivan Mironov took to drink； and all he possessed
would have gone on drink if it had not been for
his wife； who locked up his clothes； the horses'
collars； and all the rest of what he would other…
wise have squandered in public…houses。 In his
drunken state Ivan Mironov was continually
thinking； not only of the man who had wronged
him； but of all the rich people who live on robbing
the poor。 One day he had a drink with some
peasants from the suburbs of Podolsk； and was
walking home together with them。 On the way
the peasants； who were completely drunk； told him
they had stol