The Boys
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It is a frosty November day. Kolya Krassotkin, a precocious boy of fourteen who prides himself on his intellect and independence, stands outside the Snegiryovs' lodgings. He has brought a dog named Perezvon, whom he has secretly trained to perform tricks.
Inside, little Ilusha Snegiryov is dying. Ilusha believes he killed a dog named Zhutchka by feeding it a pin, a cruel trick taught to him by Smerdyakov. The guilt is crushing the dying boy. Kolya has delayed coming for weeks to train this new dog, planning a theatrical revelation to prove Zhutchka is alive (pretending Perezvon is Zhutchka).
Alyosha Karamazov meets Kolya at the gate. Kolya is eager to impress Alyosha but also anxious about the delay.