38. Taking it Out on the Serfs
Darya Saltykova never got over the humiliation and hurt of her lover choosing a younger woman over her. Unable to punish him, she took out her anger on her serfs, and punished them instead. Over a period of years, Saltykova’s serfs were forced to live through a horrific nightmare of torture and murder.
The widow’s fits of fury were inexplicable and unpredictable, and at any moment, she could fly into a murderous rage for no apparent reason. At first, she threw sticks, and then logs, at serving girls when she disapproved of their work. The violence escalated, and before long, she was beating them. Then torturing them. And finally, torturing them to death.