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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。
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THE FORGED COUPONAnd Other Stories
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 estate。
Peter Nikolaevich had been an official in the Customs； and had gained
eighteen thousand roubles during his service。 About twelve years ago he
quitted the servicenot quite of his own accord： as a matter of fact he had
been compelled to leaveand bought an estate from a young landowner
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 managed
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 perfect 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
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THE FORGED COUPONAnd Other Stories
in the perfect condition of his estate； and was proud to have achieved it
not 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 Nikolaevich 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 certainly 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。〃
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THE FORGED COUPONAnd Other Stories
〃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