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complied with his wishes； and Missael got his things ready with the help
of his servant and his cook。 They furnished him with a case full of wine；
and a basket with the victuals he might need in going to such a lonely
place。 Fully provided with all he wanted； he started for the village to
which he was commissioned。 He was pleasantly conscious of the
importance of his mission。 All his doubts as to his own faith passed away；
and he was now fully convinced of its reality。
His thoughts； far from being concerned with the real foundation of his
creed this was accepted as an axiomwere occupied with the arguments
used against the forms of worship。
XX
THE village priest and his wife received Father Missael with great
honours； and the next day after he had arrived the parishioners were
invited to assemble in the church。 Missael in a new silk cassock； with a
large cross on his chest； and his long hair carefully combed； ascended the
pulpit； the priest stood at his side； the deacons and the choir at a little
distance behind him； and the side entrances were guarded by the police。
The dissenters also came in their dirty sheepskin coats。
After the service Missael delivered a sermon； admonishing the
dissenters to return to the bosom of their mother； the Church； threatening
them with the torments of hell； and promising full forgiveness to those
who would repent。
The dissenters kept silent at first。 Then； being asked questions； they
gave answers。 To the question why they dissented； they said that their
chief reason was the fact that the Church worshipped gods made of wood；
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which； far from being ordained； were condemned by the Scriptures。
When asked by Missael whether they actually considered the holy
ikons to be mere planks of wood； Chouev answered；〃Just look at the
back of any ikon you choose and you will see what they are made of。〃
When asked why they turned against the priests； their answer was that
the Scripture says： 〃As you have received it without fee； so you must
give it to the others； whereas the priests require payment for the grace they
bestow by the sacraments。〃 To all attempts which Missael made to oppose
them by arguments founded on Holy Writ； the tailor and Ivan Chouev gave
calm but very firm answers； contradicting his assertions by appeal to the
Scriptures； which they knew uncommonly well。
Missael got angry and threatened them with persecution by the
authorities。 Their answer was： It is said； I have been persecuted and so
will you be。
The discussion came to nothing； and all would have ended well if
Missael had not preached the next day at mass； denouncing the wicked
seducers of the faithful and saying that they deserved the worst
punishment。 Coming out of the church； the crowd of peasants began to
consult whether it would not be well to give the infidels a good lesson for
disturbing the minds of the community。 The same day； just when Missael
was enjoying some salmon and gangfish； dining at the village priest's in
company with the inspector； a violent brawl arose in the village。 The
peasants came in a crowd to Chouev's cottage； and waited for the
dissenters to come out in order to give them a thrashing。
The dissenters assembled in the cottage numbered about twenty men
and women。 Missael's sermon and the attitude of the orthodox peasants；
together with their threats； aroused in the mind of the dissenters angry
feelings； to which they had before been strangers。 It was near evening； the
women had to go and milk the cows； and the peasants were still standing
and waiting at the door。
A boy who stepped out of the door was beaten and driven back into the
house。 The people within began consulting what was to be done； and
could come to no agreement。 The tailor said； 〃We must bear whatever is
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THE FORGED COUPONAnd Other Stories
done to us； and not resist。〃 Chouev replied that if they decided on that
course they would； all of them； be beaten to death。 In consequence； he
seized a poker and went out of the house。 〃Come！〃 he shouted； let us
follow the law of Moses！〃 And； falling upon the peasants； he knocked out
one man's eye； and in the meanwhile all those who had been in his house
contrived to get out and make their way home。
Chouev was thrown into prison and charged with sedition and
blasphemy。
XXI
Two years previous to those events a strong and handsome young girl
of an eastern type； Katia Turchaninova； came from the Don military
settlements to St。 Petersburg to study in the university college for women。
In that town she met a student； Turin； the son of a district governor in the
Simbirsk province； and fell in love with him。 But her love was not of the
ordinary type； and she had no desire to become his wife and the mother of
his children。 He was a dear comrade to her； and their chief bond of union
was a feeling of revolt they had in common； as well as the hatred they bore；
not only to the existing forms of government； but to all those who
represented that government。 They had also in common the sense that they
both excelled their enemies in culture； in brains； as well as in morals。
Katia Turchaninova was a gifted girl； possessed of a good memory； by
means of which she easily mastered the lectures she attended。 She was
successful in her examinations； and； apart from that； read all the newest
books。 She was certain that her vocation was not to bear and rear
children； and even looked on such a task with disgust and contempt。 She
thought herself chosen by destiny to destroy the present government；
which was fettering the best abilities of the nation； and to reveal to the
people a higher standard of life； inculcated by the latest writers of other
c