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verdict just given."
The secretary on hearing this said: "It is impossible to do this on the
present case. According to Article 117 this matter has gone too far to
be settled peaceably now, as the verdict has been rendered and must be
enforced."
But the judges would not listen to the secretary, saying to him: "You
talk altogether too much. You must remember that the first thing is to
fulfill God's command to 'Love thy neighbor as thyself,' and all will be
well with you."
Thus with kind words the judges tried to reconcile the two peasants.
Their words fell on stony ground, however, for Gavryl would not listen
to them.
"I am fifty years old," said Gavryl, "and have a son married, and never
from my birth has the lash been applied to my back; but now this bear
Ivan has secured a verdict against me which condemns me to receive
twenty lashes, and I am forced to bow to this decision and suffer the
shame of a public beating. Well, he will have cause to remember this."
At this Gavryl's voice trembled and he stopped speaking, and turning his
back on the judges took his departure.
It was about ten versts' distance from the court to the homes of the
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