He fell on his knees before the noblewoman and plead with her for mercy.

The kind-hearted lady lectured him about God, the salvation of his soul, and his future life.

She talked to him also about the misery and disgrace he brought upon his family, and altogether so worked upon his feelings that he cried like a child.

In conclusion his kind mistress said: "I will forgive you this time on the condition that you promise faithfully to reform, and never again to take what does not belong to you." Polikey, still weeping, replied: "I will never steal again in all my life, and if I break my promise may the earth open and swallow me up, and let my body be burned with red-hot irons!" Polikey returned to his home, and throwing himself on the oven spent the entire day weeping and repeating the promise made to his mistress.
From that time on he was not again caught stealing, but his life became extremely sad, for he was regarded with suspicion by every one and pointed to as a thief.
When the time came round for securing recruits for the army, all the peasants singled out Polikey as the first to be taken.

The superintendent was especially anxious to get rid of him, and went to his mistress to induce her to have him sent away.