Александр Пушкин (Alexander Pushkin)Chapter 1: Two Neighbours
Many years ago, a rich and powerful man named Kirila Petrovitch Troekouroff lived on his big estate. He came from an old and important family. Everyone was afraid of him. Government officials trembled when they heard his name. His neighbours always did what he wanted.
His house was always full of guests. People came to eat, drink, and laugh with him. No one dared to say no to his invitations.
Troekouroff was a strong man. He ate and drank a lot. Two or three times a week, he felt sick from too much food. He got drunk almost every evening.
In one part of his house lived sixteen young women. They did sewing work. Their windows had iron bars. Their doors were locked. The keys were kept by Troekouroff. At certain times, two old women took them to the garden for a walk. Sometimes Troekouroff married them off to his servants. New young women then came to live in the house.
Troekouroff was very strict with his servants and peasants. But they were loyal to him. They were proud of their rich master. They also treated neighbours badly because they knew their master would protect them.
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His Daily Life
Every day, Troekouroff rode around his large lands. He spent his nights eating and drinking with friends. He also liked to play tricks on people. He often played tricks on new guests. But sometimes his old friends were his victims too.
Only one man was safe from his jokes. That man was Andrei Gavrilovitch Doubrovsky. He was a retired army officer. He lived nearby. He had only seventy servants (serfs). Troekouroff was proud and rude to most people, but he respected Doubrovsky. They had been friends in the army many years ago.
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The Old Friends
In the year 1762, something happened in Russia that separated them for a long time. Troekouroff became more important in the army. Doubrovsky, who had less money, had to leave the army. He went to live on his small farm.
When Troekouroff heard this, he offered Doubrovsky help. But Doubrovsky said no. He stayed poor but independent.
Years later, Troekouroff retired from the army and came back to his land. They met again and became good friends again. They saw each other almost every day. Troekouroff, who never visited anyone, often visited Doubrovsky's small house.