Too Dear - Leo Tolstoy

 1. Write a note on Monaco.

Monaco is a tiny principality located on the Mediterranean coast near the borders of France and Italy. With a population of only about seven thousand, it is smaller than many country towns. Despite its size, Monaco maintains a king, a palace, ministers, a bishop, generals, and an army of just sixty men.

The kingdom collects taxes on items such as tobacco, wine, and spirits, as well as a poll tax, but the revenue from its small population was insufficient. To generate additional income, the Prince of Monaco resorted to establishing gaming houses where people could gamble, particularly through games like roulette. This practice, though considered disreputable, brought substantial income to the kingdom, as gambling was banned in many other European countries

2. Difficulty in dealing with the criminal.

A murder was once committed in Monaco. The king and his judicial system lacked experience in handling such a case. The criminal was sentenced to death, but the kingdom had no means of execution. They sought help from neighboring countries. France demanded 16,000 francs, while Italy quoted 12,000 francs for the machine and expert required. Both options were too costly.

The general was consulted but offered no solution, and the soldiers admitted they were untrained for executions. Finally, the king commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment. The criminal was kept in prison with a pension of 600 francs. The entire incident reflected the kingdom’s inexperience in dealing with serious crimes like murder.

3. Criminal was reluctant to go out of the prison.

The criminal was reluctant to leave the prison because he had nowhere to go and no means to live outside. His character had been ruined by the sentence, and he feared that people would turn their backs on him. Having spent a long time in prison, he had lost the habit of working and could not adjust to life outside. Moreover, he felt he had been treated unfairly—first sentenced to death but not executed, then given life imprisonment, and now suddenly told to go away. He refused to leave, saying he had no place or support outside the prison.

4. Life after release

After his release, the criminal received one-third of his annuity in advance and left the King’s dominions. He settled just across the frontier, bought a piece of land, and started market gardening. He began living comfortably and peacefully. He would go at the proper time to collect his pension and then visit gaming tables, where he would stake small amounts of money. Sometimes he won and sometimes he lost, but he always returned home content. His life after release was stable and secure, and he lived without any trouble