This habit he vainly endeavored to overcome.

It often happened that when he returned home intoxicated, his wife, losing all patience, roundly cursed him and cruelly beat him.

At times he would cry like a child, and bemoan his fate, saying: "Unfortunate man that I am, what shall I do?
LET MY EYES BURST INTO PIECES if I do not forever give up the vile habit! I will not again touch vodki." In spite of all his promises of reform, but a short period (perhaps a month) would elapse when Polikey would again mysteriously disappear from his home and be lost for several days on a spree.
"From what source does he get the money he spends so freely ?" the neighbors inquired of each other, as they sadly shook their heads.
One of his most unfortunate exploits in the matter of stealing was in connection with a clock which belonged to the estate of his mistress.
The clock stood in the private office of the noblewoman, and was so old as to have outlived its usefulness, and was simply kept as an heirloom.
It so happened that Polikey went into the office one day when no one was present but himself, and, seeing the old clock, it seemed to possess a peculiar fascination for him, and he speedily transferred it to his person.

He carried it to a town not far from the village, where he very readily found a purchaser.
As if purposely to secure his punishment, it happened that the storekeeper to whom he sold it proved to be a relative of one of the court servants, and who, when he visited his friend on the next holiday, related all about his purchase of the clock.
An investigation was immediately instituted, and all the details of Polikey's transaction were brought to light and reported to his noble mistress.

He was called into her presence, and, when confronted with the story of the theft, broke down and confessed all.