ked the
pretended Tsarevich whether, as it was growing late, he wished to
retire to rest. So Goria went into the bedchamber, and, seeing that it
was not the bed of which Prituitshkin had spoken, he instantly called
his servant, as if in a passion, and giving him a box on the ears,
said: "You rascal, why have you not made ready my bed? You know very
well that I always sleep on my hundred-pood bed: go instantly and
bring it to me!" Thereupon Prituitshkin ran as fast as he could and
brought the hundred-pood bed, which he had stolen from Prince
Dardavan.

Then Goria the shoemaker undressed, and lay down upon the bed; and
Dogada, on purpose to try him, ordered a number of tapers to be
lighted and taken into his bedchamber. But Goria instantly drove all
the servants away with the lights, and ordered Prituitshkin to give
him the stone, which the latter presently brought, having stolen this
also from Prince Dardavan. Then Goria placed the stone on the table,
and lay down to sleep; and the light shed by the stone was more
dazzling than a meteor in the sky.

At midnight, Dogada sent one of her attendants into the bedroom of the
shoemaker, desiring her to steal away the stone from the table. But
hardly had the girl entered the apartment, and was about to run off
with the stone, than the servant Prituitshkin, who was lying by the
door, jumped up and exclaimed: "Is it not a shame for you, pretty
girl, to rob your future lord and master! You must leave me now a
pledge for your conduct." So saying, he drew off the maid's slipper
and head-dress and dismissed her. Then the girl went to her mistress
and told her the whole affair; but Dogada did not despair, and, after
an hour, thinking that Goria and his servant Prituitshkin would now be
asleep, she sent another maid to steal the stone. When the girl
entered the bedchamber, up jumped Prituitshkin again as before, pulled
off her slipper, head-dress and jacket, and let her go. But after
another hour had passed, Dogada, again thinking they must have fallen
asleep, resolved to go herself and fetch the stone. Scarcely, however,
had she entered the bedroom of the shoemaker Goria, and laid her hand
upon the stone, than up jumped Prituitshkin, and, seizing her,
exclaimed: "How! is it not a shame for your Grace to contrive such
wickedness? It is not becoming the daughter of so renowned a father to
be plotting such tricks; therefore, I must beg of you, fair lady, to
leave me a pledge." No soone