The founders of the village had settled on the land without the permission of the absentee owner, and obstinately resisted all attempts at eviction.

Again and again troops had been sent to drive them away, but as soon as the troops retired these "self-willed" people returned and resumed possession, till at last the proprietor, who lived in St.Petersburg or some other distant place, became weary of the contest and allowed them to remain.

The various incidents were related with much circumstantial detail, so that the narration lasted perhaps half an hour.

All this time I listened attentively, and when the story was finished I took out my note-book in order to jot down the facts, and asked in what year the affair had happened.

No answer was given to my question.