Again Iván was not successful. The magistrate did not accept the petition: they examined the woman, but she was up and there were no marks upon her. Iván went to the justice of the peace; but the justice sent the case to the township court. Iván bestirred himself in the township office, filled the elder and the scribe with half a bucket of sweet liquor, and got them to sentence Gavrílo to having his back flogged. The sentence was read to Gavrílo in the court.
The scribe read:
"The court has decreed that the peasant Gavrílo Gordyéy receive twenty blows with rods in the township office."
Iván listened to the decree and looked at Gavrílo, wondering what he would do. Gavrílo, too, heard the decree, and he became as pale as a sheet, and turned away and walked out into the vestibule. Iván followed him out and wanted to go to his horse, when he heard Gavrílo say:
"Very well, he will beat my back, and it will burn, but something of his may burn worse than that."
When Iván heard these words, he returned to the judges.
"Righteous judges! He threatens to set fire to my house. Listen, he said it in the presence of witnesses."
Gavrílo was called in.
"Is it true that you said so?"
"I said nothing. Flog me, if you please. Evidently I must suffer for my truth, while he may do anything he wishes."