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against the whole world。
On the whole； as all the people around him noticed； Prokofy became
another man after his imprisonment； both careless and lazy； he took to
drink； and he was soon caught stealing clothes at some woman's house；
and found himself again in prison。
All that Peter Nikolaevich discovered about his grey horses was the
hide of one of them； Beauty； which had been found somewhere on the
estate。 The fact that the thieves had got off scot…free irritated Peter
Nikolaevich still more。 He was unable now to speak of the peasants or to
look at them without anger。 And whenever he could he tried to oppress
them。
XII
AFTER having got rid of the coupon； Eugene Mihailovich forgot all
about it； but his wife； Maria Vassilievna； could not forgive herself for
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THE FORGED COUPONAnd Other Stories
having been taken in； nor yet her husband for his cruel words。 And most
of all she was furious against the two boys who had so skilfully cheated
her。 From the day she had accepted the forged coupon as payment； she
looked closely at all the schoolboys who came in her way in the streets。
One day she met Mahin； but did not recognise him； for on seeing her he
made a face which quite changed his features。 But when； a fortnight
after the incident with the coupon； she met Mitia Smokovnikov face to
face； she knew him at once。
She let him pass her； then turned back and followed him； and arriving
at his house she made inquiries as to whose son he was。 The next day she
went to the school and met the divinity instructor； the priest Michael
Vedensky； in the hall。 He asked her what she wanted。 She answered that
she wished to see the head of the school。 〃He is not quite well；〃 said the
priest。 〃Can I be of any use to you； or give him your message？〃
Maria Vassilievna thought that she might as well tell the priest what
was the matter。 Michael Vedensky was a widower； and a very ambitious
man。 A year ago he had met Mitia Smokovnikov's father in society； and
had had a discussion with him on religion。 Smokovnikov had beaten him
decisively on all points； indeed； he had made him appear quite ridiculous。
Since that time the priest had decided to pay special attention to
Smokovnikov's son； and； finding him as indifferent to religious matters as
his father was； he began to persecute him； and even brought about his
failure in examinations。
When Maria Vassilievna told him what young Smokovnikov had done
to her； Vedensky could not help feeling an inner satisfaction。 He saw in the
boy's conduct a proof of the utter wickedness of those who are not guided
by the rules of the Church。 He decided to take advantage of this great
opportunity of warning unbelievers of the perils that threatened them。 At
all events； he wanted to persuade himself that this was the only motive that
guided him in the course he had resolved to take。 But at the bottom of his
heart he was only anxious to get his revenge on the proud atheist。
〃Yes； it is very sad indeed；〃 said Father Michael； toying with the cross
he was wearing over his priestly robes； and passing his hands over its
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THE FORGED COUPONAnd Other Stories
polished sides。 〃I am very glad you have given me your confidence。 As
a servant of the Church I shall admonish the young manof course with
the utmost kindness。 I shall certainly do it in the way that befits my holy
office；〃 said Father Michael to himself； really thinking that he had
forgotten the ill…feeling the boy's father had towards him。 He firmly
believed the boy's soul to be the only object of his pious care。
The next day； during the divinity lesson which Father Michael was
giving to Mitia Smokovnikov's class； he narrated the incident of the forged
coupon； adding that the culprit had been one of the pupils of the school。
〃It was a very wicked thing to do；〃 he said； 〃but to deny the crime is still
worse。 If it is true that the sin has been committed by one of you； let the
guilty one confess。〃 In saying this； Father Michael looked sharply at Mitia
Smokovnikov。 All the boys； following his glance； turned also to Mitia；
who blushed； and felt extremely ill at ease； with large beads of
perspiration on his face。 Finally； he burst into tears； and ran out of the
classroom。 His mother； noticing his trouble； found out the truth； ran at
once to the photographer's shop； paid over the twelve roubles and fifty
kopeks to Maria Vassilievna； and made her promise to deny the boy's guilt。
She further implored Mitia to hide the truth from everybody； and in any
case to withhold it from his father。
Accordingly； when Fedor Mihailovich had heard of the incident in the
divinity class； and his son； questioned by him； had denied all accusations；
he called at once on the head of the school； told him what had happened；
expressed his indignation at Father Michael's conduct； and said he would
not let matters remain as they were。
Father Michael was sent for； and immediately fell into a hot dispute
with Smokovnikov。
〃A stupid woman first falsely accused my son； then retracts her
accusation； and you of course could not hit on anything more sensible to
do than to slander an honest and truthful boy！〃
〃I did not slander him； and I must beg you not to address me in such a
way。 You forget what is due to my cloth。〃
〃Your cloth is of no consequence to me。〃
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〃Your perversity in matters of religion is known to everybody in the
town！〃 replied Father Michael； and he was so transported with anger that
his long thin head quivered。
〃Gentlemen！ Father Michael！〃 exclaimed the director of the school；
trying to appease their wrath。 But they did not listen to him。
〃It is my duty as a priest to look after the religious and moral
education of our pupils。〃
〃Oh； cease your pretence to be religious！ Oh； stop all this humbug of
religion！ As