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It was not many weeks, in fact, before the expected petition came
to hand. The Princess Martha had also foreseen it, and instructed
her son how to attack his father's weak side. The latter was
furiously jealous of certain other noblemen of nearly equal wealth,
who were with him at the court of Peter the Great, as their sons
now were at that of Elizabeth. Boris compared the splendor of
these young noblemen with his own moderate estate, fabled a few
"adventures" and drinking-bouts, and announced his determination of
doing honor to the name which Prince Alexis of Kinesma had left
behind him in the capital.
There was cursing at the castle when the letter arrived. Many
serfs felt the sting of the short whip, the slumber-flag was
hoisted five minutes later than usual, and the consumption of
Cognac was alarming; but no mirror was smashed, and when Prince
Alexis read the letter to his poor relations, he even chuckled over
some portions of it. Boris had boldly demanded twenty thousand
rubles, in the desperate hope of receiving half that amount,--and
he had calculated correctly.


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