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It must be stated, as one favorable trait in the character of
Prince Alexis, that, however brutally he treated his serfs, he
allowed no other man to oppress them. All they had and were--their
services, bodies, lives--belonged to him; hence injustice towards
them was disrespect towards their lord. Under the fear which his
barbarity inspired lurked a brute-like attachment, kept alive by
the recognition of this quality.
One day it was reported to him that Gregor, a merchant in the
bazaar at Kinesma, had cheated the wife of one of his serfs in the
purchase of a piece of cloth. Mounting his horse, he rode at once
to Gregor's booth, called for the cloth, and sent the entire piece
to the woman, in the merchant's name, as a confessed act of
reparation.
"Now, Gregor, my child," said he, as he turned his horse's head,
"have a care in future, and play me no more dishonest tricks. Do
you hear? I shall come and take your business in hand myself, if
the like happens again."
Not ten days passed before the like--or something fully as bad--
did happen.


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