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THE FORGED COUPONAnd Other Stories
〃I know； those peasant folks have no brains。 Ignorance； of course。
Don't you be uneasy。 I know what I have to say。〃
Ivan Mironov； with tears in his eyes； implored Eugene Mihailovich
over and over again to acknowledge the coupon he had given him； and the
yard…porter to believe what he said； but it proved quite useless； they both
insisted that they had never bought firewood from a peasant in the street。
The policeman brought Ivan Mironov back to the police…station； and he
was charged with forging the coupon。 Only after taking the advice of a
drunken office clerk in the same cell with him； and bribing the police
officer with five roubles； did Ivan Mironov get out of jail； without the
coupon； and with only seven roubles left out of the twenty…five he had the
day before。
Of these seven roubles he spent three in the public…house and came
home to his wife dead drunk； with a bruised and swollen face。
His wife was expecting a child； and felt very ill。 She began to scold
her husband； he pushed her away； and she struck him。 Without answering
a word he lay down on the plank and began to weep bitterly。
Not till the next day did he tell his wife what had actually happened。
She believed him at once； and thoroughly cursed the dastardly rich man
who had cheated Ivan。 He was sobered now； and remembering the
advice a workman had given him； with whom he had many a drink the day
before； decided to go to a lawyer and tell him of the wrong the owner of
the photograph shop had done him。
VIII
THE lawyer consented to take proceedings on behalf of Ivan Mironov；
not so much for the sake of the fee； as because he believed the peasant；
and was revolted by the wrong done to him。
Both parties appeared in the court when the case was tried； and the
yard…porter Vassily was summoned as witness。 They repeated in the
court all they had said before to the police officials。 Ivan Mironov again
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THE FORGED COUPONAnd Other Stories
called to his aid the name of the Divinity； and reminded the shopkeeper of
the hour of death。 Eugene Mihailovich； although quite aware of his
wickedness； and the risks he was running； despite the rebukes of his
conscience； could not now change his testimony； and went on calmly to
deny all the allegations made against him。
The yard…porter Vassily had received another ten roubles from his
master； and； quite unperturbed； asserted with a smile that he did not know
anything about Ivan Mironov。 And when he was called upon to take the
oath； he overcame his inner qualms； and repeated with assumed ease the
terms of the oath； read to him by the old priest appointed to the court。 By
the holy Cross and the Gospel； he swore that he spoke the whole truth。
The case was decided against Ivan Mironov； who was sentenced to pay
five roubles for expenses。 This sum Eugene Mihailovich generously paid
for him。 Before dismissing Ivan Mironov； the judge severely admonished
him； saying he ought to take care in the future not to accuse respectable
people； and that he also ought to be thankful that he was not forced to pay
the costs； and that he had escaped a prosecution for slander； for which he
would have been condemned to three months' imprisonment。
〃I offer my humble thanks；〃 said Ivan Mironov； and； shaking his head；
left the court with a heavy sigh。
The whole thing seemed to have ended well for Eugene Mihailovich
and the yard…porter Vassily。 But only in appearance。 Something had
happened which was not noticed by any one； but which was much more
important than all that had been exposed to view。
Vassily had left his village and settled in town over two years ago。 As
time went on he sent less and less money to his father； and he did not ask
his wife； who remained at home； to join him。 He was in no need of her； he
could in town have as many wives as he wished； and much better ones too
than that clumsy； village…bred woman。 Vassily； with each recurring year；
became more and more familiar with the ways of the town people；
forgetting the conventions of a country life。 There everything was so
vulgar； so grey； so poor and untidy。 Here； in town； all seemed on the
contrary so refined； nice； clean； and rich； so orderly too。 And he became
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THE FORGED COUPONAnd Other Stories
more and more convinced that people in the country live just like wild
beasts； having no idea of what life is； and that only life in town is real。 He
read books written by clever writers； and went to the performances in the
Peoples' Palace。 In the country； people would not see such wonders even
in dreams。 In the country old men say： 〃Obey the law； and live with your
wife； work； don't eat too much； don't care for finery；〃 while here； in town；
all the clever and learned peoplethose； of course； who know what in
reality the law isonly pursue their own pleasures。 And they are the better
for it。
Previous to the incident of the forged coupon； Vassily could not
actually believe that rich people lived without any moral law。 But after
that； still more after having perjured himself； and not being the worse for it
in spite of his fears on the contrary； he had gained ten roubles out of it
Vassily became firmly convinced that no moral laws whatever exist； and
that the only thing to do is to pursue one's own interests and pleasures。
This he now made his rule in life。 He accordingly got as much profit as he
could out of purchasing goods for lodgers。 But this did not pay all his
expenses。 Then he took to stealing； whenever chance offered money and
all sorts of valuables。 One day he stole a purse full of money from
Eugene Mihailovich； but was found out。 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