"At the beginning of the century, two brothers named S. were known in Moscow. They were even famous in their own way and in some circles. Both were prominent and handsome men. They expressed a certain debauchery, a certain bravado, quite common during the reign of Catherine, curbed and suppressed under Emperor Paul and again awakened, for a while, with the accession of Alexander. <…> In 1806, they were militiamen in a remote provincial town. At that very time, before December 12, the birthday of Emperor Alexander, the governor appeals to his highest authorities, asking permission to drink Malaga at the upcoming official dinner for the health of the sovereign emperor, and not Champagne, because all the Champagne available in the provincial town and in the districts had been drunk by the brothers S."