\"’Youpromisedmetoreform，’mynoblemistresssaidtome，’andIwillbethefirsttoshowyouhowmuchfaithIhaveinyourpromise。Iwantyoutorideintotown，and，goingtotheprincipalmerchantthere，collectasumofmoneyfromhimandbringittome。’Isaidtomymistress：’Everythingyouordershallbedone。Iwillonlytoogladlyobeyyourslightestwish。’
Thenmymistresssaid：’Doyouunderstand，Polikey，thatyourfuturelotdependsuponthefaithfulperformanceofthisdutyI
imposeuponyou？’Ireplied：’Yes，Iunderstandeverything，andfeelthatIwillsuceedinperformingacceptablyanytaskwhichyoumayimposeuponme。Ihavebeenaccusedofeverykindofevildeedthatitispossibletochargeamanwith，butIhaveneverdoneanythingseriouslywrongagainstyou，yourhonor。’InthiswayItalkedtoourmistressuntilIsucceededinconvincingherthatmyrepentancewassincere，andshebecamegreatlysoftenedtowardme，saying，’IfyouaresuccessfulIwillgiveyouthefirstplaceatthecourt。’\"
\"Andhowmuchmoneyareyoutocollect？\"inquiredAkulina。
\"Fifteenhundredrubles，\"carelesslyansweredPolikey。