Summary of Belkin’s Tale

In one of the remote provinces in his estate Tugilov lives a retired guard Ivan Petrovich Berestov, long widowed and not going anywhere. He is engaged in farming and considers himself to be “the smartest person in the whole neighborhood”, although he reads nothing but the “Senate Gazette.” Neighbors love him, although they consider him proud. Only his closest neighbor Grigory Ivanovich Muromsky does not get along with him. Muromsky started a house and economy in English manners in the estate of Priluchin, conservative Berestov does not like innovations and criticizes his neighbor’s anglomania.
Berestov’s son, Alexei, after completing his course at the university, comes to the village to his father. The county ladies are interested in him, and most of all are the daughter of Muromsky Liza, but Alexei was cold to the attention signs, and everyone explained it by his secret love. Liza’s confidante, the serf girl Nastya, goes to Tugilovo to

visit friends, servants of the Berestovs, and Lisa asks her to see the young Berestov properly. Returning home, Nastya tells the young lady how the young Berestov played with the courtyard girls in the burners and how he kissed every time how good he was, statues and blush.
Lisa is seized by the desire to see Alexei Berestov, but it’s impossible to do it in a simple way, and Lisa comes up with the idea of ​​dressing as a peasant woman. The next day she begins to implement the plan, orders to sew a peasant dress and, trying on an outfit, finds that he is very fit for her. At dawn the next day Lisa in a peasant outfit leaves the house and heads towards Tugilov. In the grove a crouching dog rushes to it with barking, the young hunter comes to rescue the dog and calms the girl. Lisa perfectly plays her role, a young man is called to conduct it and calls himself a valet of the young Berestov, but Lisa recognizes Alexei himself and convicts him. She gives herself away for her daughter Priluchinsky blacksmith Akulina. A smart peasant woman really likes Alexei Berestov, he wants to see her again and is going to visit her blacksmith father.
Upon returning home, Liza almost regrets that she gave Berestov a reckless promise, but the fear that a determined young man will come to the blacksmith and there will find his daughter Akulina, a fat and pockmarked girl, is even more frightened. Encouraged by a new acquaintance and Alex. He comes to the place of appointment before the appointed time and looks forward to Akulina, who is in a depressed state and tries to persuade Alexei that the acquaintance should be stopped. But Alex, fascinated by a peasant woman, does not want this. Lisa takes the word from him that he will not look for her in the village and seek other meetings with her, other than those she herself will appoint. Two months continue their meetings, while one circumstance nearly destroyed this idyll. Having gone on a horseback ride, Muromsky meets old Berestov, hunting in these places. Dropped by a horse that has suffered a horse, Muromsky is in the house of Berestov. The fathers of the young people parted in mutual sympathy and with Berestov’s promise to visit the Muromsky with Alexei. Learning about this, Lisa comes into confusion, but together with Nastya develops a plan, which, in her opinion, should save her from exposure. Taking from his father a promise not to be surprised at anything, Lisa comes out to the guests densely whitened and nasrimlennaya, ridiculously combed and extravagantly dressed. Alexei does not recognize in this mincing lady a simple and natural Akulina. Taking from his father a promise not to be surprised at anything, Lisa comes out to the guests densely whitened and nasrimlennaya, ridiculously combed and extravagantly dressed. Alexei does not recognize in this mincing lady a simple and natural Akulina. Taking from his father a promise not to be surprised at anything, Lisa comes out to the guests densely whitened and nasrimlennaya, ridiculously combed and extravagantly dressed. Alexei does not recognize in this mincing lady a simple and natural Akulina.
Next day Lisa rushes to the place of visits. She is anxious to know what impression the priluchinskaya young lady made on Alexey. But Alex says that the young lady in comparison with her – ugly freak. Meanwhile, the acquaintance of the elderly Berestov and Muromsky grows into friendship, and they decide to marry children. Alex meets his father’s message about this with mental shudders. In his heart there is a romantic dream of marrying a simple peasant woman. He goes to the Muromsky to make a clear explanation of them. Entering the house, he meets Lizaveta Grigorievna and believes that this is his Akulina. Misunderstanding is resolved to everyone’s satisfaction.
The army regiment is quartered in the town ***. Life goes according to the routine established in the army, and garrison boredom is dispelled only by the acquaintance of officers with a certain person named Silvio, who lives in this place. He is older than most of the officers of the regiment, morose, has a strong temper and an evil tongue. In his life there is some mystery that Silvio does not reveal to anyone. It is known that Silvio once served in the hussar regiment, but the reason for his resignation is unknown to anyone, as well as the reason for living in this remote place. Neither his income nor his fortune is known, but he holds an open table for the officers of the regiment, and at dinner, champagne flows like a river. For this he is all ready to forgive. The mystery of the figure of Silvio shades his almost supernatural art in the shooting of a pistol. He does not take part in the conversations of officers about fights, but on questions, whether he ever fought, responds dryly, which has happened. Among themselves, the officers believe that on the conscience of Silvio lies some unfortunate victim of his inhuman art. Once, several officers gathered at Silvio, as usual. After drinking a lot, they started a card game and asked Silvio to sweep the bank. In the game, he was as usual silent and without words corrected the errors of the panthers in the records. One young officer who recently entered the regiment and did not know the habits of Silvio, it seemed that he was mistaken. Enraged by Silvio’s silent persistence, the officer shot him in the head with a chandal, Silvio, pale with anger, asked the officer to retire. Everyone considered the duel inevitable and did not doubt its outcome, but Silvio did not call the officer, and this circumstance spoiled his reputation in the eyes of the officers, but gradually everything went into the ordinary course and the incident was forgotten.
Once in the regimental office, where the mail came, Silvio received a package, the content of which greatly upset him. He announced to the assembled officers about his unexpected departure and invited everyone to a farewell dinner. Late in the evening, when everyone left the house of Silvio, the owner asked the most handsome officer to stay and revealed his secret to him.
Several years ago, Silvio received a slap in the face, and his offender is still alive. It happened during the years of his service, when Silvio was very violent. He excelled in the regiment and enjoyed this position until the regiment decided to “a young man of a rich and distinguished family.” It was the most brilliant lucky man, who always and in all fabulously lucky. At first he tried to achieve the friendship and location of Silvio, but, not having succeeded in this, he distanced himself from him without regret. Silvio’s championship was wavered, and he hated this favorite of fortune. One day at a ball at a Polish landowner they quarreled, and Silvio received a slap from his enemy. At dawn there was a duel, to which the offender Silvio appeared with a cap full of ripe cherries. By lot, he got the first shot, making it and shooting on Silvio cap, he calmly stood at the barrel of his pistol and enjoyed eating cherries, spitting out the stones that sometimes reached his opponent. His indifference and equanimity infuriated Silvio, and he refused to shoot. His opponent said indifferently that Silvio would have the right to use his shot when he pleased. Soon Silvio retired and retired to this place, but there was not a day that he did not dream of revenge. And finally his hour came. They inform him that “a well-known person must soon enter into legal marriage with a young and beautiful girl.” And Silvio decided to see whether “he would indifferently accept death before his wedding, as he had once been waiting for her for cherries!”. The friends said good-bye, and Silvio left. which sometimes reached his opponent. His indifference and equanimity infuriated Silvio, and he refused to shoot. His opponent said indifferently that Silvio would have the right to use his shot when he pleased. Soon Silvio retired and retired to this place, but there was not a day that he did not dream of revenge. And finally his hour came. They inform him that “a well-known person must soon enter into legal marriage with a young and beautiful girl.” And Silvio decided to see whether “he would indifferently accept death before his wedding, as he had once been waiting for her for cherries!”. The friends said good-bye, and Silvio left. which sometimes reached his opponent. His indifference and equanimity infuriated Silvio, and he refused to shoot. His opponent said indifferently that Silvio would have the right to use his shot when he pleased. Soon Silvio retired and retired to this place, but there was not a day that he did not dream of revenge. And finally his hour came. They inform him that “a well-known person must soon enter into legal marriage with a young and beautiful girl.” And Silvio decided to see whether “he would indifferently accept death before his wedding, as he had once been waiting for her for cherries!”. The friends said good-bye, and Silvio left. that Silvio will have the right to use his shot when he pleases. Soon Silvio retired and retired to this place, but there was not a day that he did not dream of revenge. And finally his hour came. They inform him that “a well-known person must soon enter into legal marriage with a young and beautiful girl.” And Silvio decided to see whether “he would indifferently accept death before his wedding, as he had once been waiting for her for cherries!”. The friends said good-bye, and Silvio left. that Silvio will have the right to use his shot when he pleases. Soon Silvio retired and retired to this place, but there was not a day that he did not dream of revenge. And finally his hour came. They inform him that “a well-known person must soon enter into legal marriage with a young and beautiful girl.” And Silvio decided to see whether “he would indifferently accept death before his wedding, as he had once been waiting for her for cherries!”. The friends said good-bye, and Silvio left.
A few years later, circumstances forced the officer to resign and settle in his poor village, where he was dying of boredom, until Count B *** came to the neighboring estate with his young wife. The narrator goes to visit them. Count and Countess fascinated him with his secular treatment. On the wall of the living room, the narrator’s attention is attracted to the picture, shot through “two bullets planted one into another.” He praised a successful shot and said that he knew in his life a man whose art in shooting was truly amazing. To the graph’s question, as the archer was called, the narrator named Silvio. At the same time, the Count and Countess came in confusion. The Count inquires if Silvio did not tell his friend about a strange story, and the narrator guesses that the count is that long-time offender of his friend. It turns out,
It happened five years ago in this very house, where the Count and Countess spent their honeymoon. Once the earl was informed that a certain person was waiting for him, who did not wish to give his name. Entering the drawing-room, the Count found Silvio there, who did not immediately recognize him and who recalled the shot left behind him and said that he had come to discharge his pistol. The countess could enter in a minute. The count was nervous and hurried, Silvio hesitated and finally forced the count to draw lots again. Again the ear received the first shot. Against all the rules, he shot and shot the wall that hung on the wall. At that moment a frightened Countess ran in. Her husband began to assure her that they were just joking with an old friend. But what was happening too was not a joke. The countess was on the verge of a faint, and the furious count cried out to Silvio, but Silvio replied that he would not do it, that he saw the main thing-the fear and confusion of the count, and enough from him. The rest is the matter of the count’s conscience. He turned and walked to the exit, but stopped at the very door and, almost without aiming, fired and hit the exact spot in the picture shot by the Count. With Silvio, the narrator did not meet again, but he heard that he died, participating in the Greek uprising led by Alexander Ypsilanti.
Undertaker Adrian Prokhorov moved from Basmannaya Street to Nikitskaya Street in a long-liked little house, but does not feel joy, since the novelty frightens him a little. But soon the order in the new dwelling is established, a sign is attached above the gate, Adrian sits at the window and orders to serve the samovar.
Drinking tea, he plunged into a sad thought, because of nature was a grim character. The everyday worries troubled him. The main concern was that the heirs of the rich merchant-woman Tryukhina, who was dying at Razguliai, would remember at the last minute about him, and did not conspire with the nearest contractor. While Adrian was indulging in these reflections, a neighbor, a German artisan, paid a visit to him. He called himself shoemaker Gottlieb Schultz, announced that he lives across the street, and invited Adrian the next day to himself on the occasion of his silver wedding. Accepting the invitation, Adrian offered Schulz tea. Neighbors chatted and quickly became friends.
At noon the next day, Adrian and his two daughters went to visit the shoemaker. Gottlieb Schultz’s friends gathered in the house, German artisans with their wives. The feast began, the owner proclaimed the health of his wife Louise, and then the health of her guests. All drank very much, the fun became noisier, when suddenly one of the guests, a fat baker, offered to drink to the health of those for whom they work. And all the guests began to bow to each other, for everyone was a friend of each other: tailor, shoemaker, baker… The baker Yurko suggested Adrian to drink for the health of his dead. General laughter arose, which offended the undertaker.
Separated late. Adrian returned home drunk and angry. It seemed to him that the incident was a deliberate mockery of the Germans over his craft, which he revered no worse than others, for the undertaker was not the brother of the executioner. Adrian even decided that he would not invite his new acquaintances to a housewarming party, but those whom he worked for. In response, his worker suggested that he cross himself. But Adrian liked this thought.
We woke Adrian still dark, as the shop assistant of the merchant, Tryukhina, came running with the message that she had died that night.
Adrian went to Razguliay, started troubles and negotiations with relatives of the deceased. When he was done he went home on foot in the evening. Approaching the house, he noticed that someone opened his wicket and entered it. While Adrian was figuring out who it could be, another man approached. His face seemed to Adrian. friends. Entering the house, the undertaker saw that the room was full of dead people, illuminated by the moon, shining through the window. With horror, he recognized in them the undertaker of his former clients. They greeted him, and one of them even tried to hug Adrian, but Prokhorov pushed him away, he fell and fell apart. Threatened by his other guests, Adrian fell and lost his senses.
Opening his eyes in the morning, Adrian remembered yesterday’s events. The employee said that the neighbors came to inquire about his health, but she did not wake him up. Adrian asked whether the deceased did not come from Tryukhina, but the worker was surprised at the words about the death of the merchant and told that the undertaker, as he had returned from the shoemaker, was drunk and had fallen asleep, and drifted up to this very minute. Only the undertaker understood that all the terrible events that had frightened him so much had occurred in a dream, and ordered the samovar to be set up and call daughters.
In 1811, Mr.. lived in his estate with his wife and daughter Masha Gavrilovich R. He was hospitable, and many enjoyed his hospitality, and some came for Marya Gavrilovna. But Marya Gavrilovna was in love with the poor army ensign named Vladimir, who was on holiday in his village next door. Young lovers, believing that the will of parents hinders their happiness, decided to dispense with the blessing, that is, to marry secretly, and then rush to the feet of parents who, of course, will be touched by the constancy of the children, forgive and bless them. This plan belonged to Vladimir, but Marya Gavrilovna finally succumbed to his persuasion of fleeing. She was to be followed by a sleigh to take her to the neighboring village of Zhadrino, where it was decided to get married and where Vladimir was already supposed to wait for her.
In the evening appointed for the flight, Marya Gavrilovna was in great agitation, refused dinner, citing a headache, and left early for herself. At the agreed time, she went out into the garden. On the road waiting for her coachman Vladimir with the sleigh. In the yard a snowstorm raged.
Vladimir himself spent all this day in trouble: he needed to persuade the priest, as well as to find witnesses. After settling these matters, he himself, riding in a small sleigh in a horse, went to Zhadrino, but, as soon as he left for the outskirts, a snowstorm rose, due to which Vladimir lost his way and wandered all night in search of a road. At dawn, he only reached Zhadrin and found the church locked up.
And Marya Gavrilovna in the morning, as if nothing had happened, left her room and answered her parents’ questions about her health calmly, but in the evening she became very feverish. In delirium she repeated Vladimir’s name, spoke of her secret, but her words were so incoherent that the mother did not understand anything, except that the daughter is in love with the neighbor’s landowner and that love must have been the cause of the illness. And the parents decided to give Masha for Vladimir. At the invitation Vladimir replied with a confused and incomprehensible letter, in which he wrote that his feet would not be in their house, and asked to forget about him. A few days later he went to the army. This happened in 1812, and after a while his name was printed among the distinguished and wounded at Borodin. This news saddened Masha, and soon died Gavrila Gavrilovich, leaving her his heir.
“Meanwhile, the war with glory was over.” The regiments returned from abroad. On the estate of Marya Gavrilovna there appeared the wounded hussar colonel Burmin, who came on vacation to his estate, which was nearby. Maria Gavrilovna and Burmin felt that they liked each other, but something kept everyone from taking a decisive step. Once Burmin came to visit and found Marya Gavrilovna in the garden. He announced to Marya Gavrilovna that she loved her, but could not become her husband, since he was already married, but did not know who his wife was, where she was alive. And he told her an amazing story, how in the beginning of 1812 he went from vacation to regiment and during a severe blizzard lost his way. Seeing a light in the distance, he went to him and drove to an open church, near which stood a sleigh and people were going impatiently. They behaved as if they were waiting for him. In the church sat a young lady, with whom Burmina was put in front of the tax. It was unforgivable frivolity. When the wedding ceremony was over, the young men were offered to kiss, and the girl, glancing at Burmin, with a cry of “not he, not he” fell down without memory. Burmin left the church unimpeded and left. And now he does not know what happened to his wife, what her name is, and does not even know where the wedding took place. The servant who was with him at that time died, so there is no way to find this woman. what happened to his wife, what her name is, and does not even know where the wedding took place. The servant who was with him at that time died, so there is no way to find this woman. what happened to his wife, what her name is, and does not even know where the wedding took place. The servant who was with him at that time died, so there is no way to find this woman.
“My God, my God,” said Marya Gavrilovna, grabbing his hand, “it was you, and you do not recognize me?”
Burmin paled… and rushed to her feet…
No people are more unhappy than the stationmasters, for in all their troubles the traveling are sure to blame the caretakers and try to put out their anger at them about bad roads, unbearable weather, bad horses and the like. And meanwhile the caretakers are mostly meek and unrequited people, “the real martyrs of the fourteenth grade, fenced by their rank only from beatings, and that is not always the case.” The life of the caretaker is full of anxieties and troubles, he does not see anyone from anyone, on the contrary, he hears threats and cries and feels the jolts of irritated guests. Meanwhile, “from their conversations one can draw a lot of curious and instructive”.
In 1816, the story happened to the narrator to pass through the *** province, and on the way he was caught in the rain. At the station he hurried to change his clothes and drink tea. She set up the samovar and put the daughter of the inspector, a girl of about fourteen, named Dunya, who impressed the narrator with her beauty. While Dunya was busy, the traveler looked at the decoration of the hut. On the wall he noticed pictures depicting the history of the prodigal son, on the windows – geraniums, in the room there was a bed behind a motley curtain. The traveler offered Samson Vyrin – that was the name of the caretaker – and his daughter shared a meal with him, and a relaxed atmosphere arose, favoring. The horses were already fed, and the traveler did not want to part with his new acquaintances.
A few years passed, and once again he had to go by this tract. He looked forward to meeting with old acquaintances. “Entering the room,” he learned the old situation, but “everything around showed signs of dilapidation and neglect.” There was no Duni in the house. The aged caretaker was sullen and uncommunicative, only a glass of punch shook him, and the traveler heard the sad story of Dunya’s disappearance. It happened three years ago. A young officer arrived at the station, who was in such a hurry and anger that they did not serve horses for a long time, but when he saw Dunya, he softened and even stayed to supper. When the horses arrived, the officer suddenly felt very unwell. The doctor arrived and found a fever for him and prescribed a complete rest. On the third day the officer was already well and was about to leave. The day was Sunday, and he invited Dunya to take her to the church. The father allowed his daughter to go, not assuming anything bad, but still he was seized by anxiety, and he ran to the church. The dinner was already over, the prayers dispersed, and from the words of the clerk the attendant learned that Duni was not in the church. Returned in the evening coachman, carrying an officer, said that Dunya went with him to the next station. The inspector realized that the officer’s illness was feigned, and he himself fell into a lot of fever. After recovering, Samson asked for a vacation and went on foot to Petersburg, where, as he knew from the roadside, captain Minsky was traveling. In St. Petersburg, he found Minsk and came to him. Minsk did not immediately recognize him, but when he found out, he began to assure Samson that he loved Dunya, would never leave her and make her happy. He gave the money-maker and escorted him out into the street. The dinner was already over, the prayers dispersed, and from the words of the clerk the attendant learned that Duni was not in the church. Returned in the evening coachman, carrying an officer, said that Dunya went with him to the next station. The inspector realized that the officer’s illness was feigned, and he himself fell into a lot of fever. After recovering, Samson asked for a vacation and went on foot to Petersburg, where, as he knew from the roadside, captain Minsky was traveling. In St. Petersburg, he found Minsk and came to him. Minsk did not immediately recognize him, but when he found out, he began to assure Samson that he loved Dunya, would never leave her and make her happy. He gave the money-maker and escorted him out into the street. The dinner was already over, the prayers dispersed, and from the words of the clerk the attendant learned that Duni was not in the church. Returned in the evening coachman, carrying an officer, said that Dunya went with him to the next station. The inspector realized that the officer’s illness was feigned, and he himself fell into a lot of fever. After recovering, Samson asked for a vacation and went on foot to Petersburg, where, as he knew from the roadside, captain Minsky was traveling. In St. Petersburg, he found Minsk and came to him. Minsk did not immediately recognize him, but when he found out, he began to assure Samson that he loved Dunya, would never leave her and make her happy. He gave the money-maker and escorted him out into the street. that the officer’s illness was feigned, and he himself fell into a great fever. After recovering, Samson asked for a vacation and went on foot to Petersburg, where, as he knew from the roadside, captain Minsky was traveling. In St. Petersburg, he found Minsk and came to him. Minsk did not immediately recognize him, but when he found out, he began to assure Samson that he loved Dunya, would never leave her and make her happy. He gave the money-maker and escorted him out into the street. that the officer’s illness was feigned, and he himself fell into a great fever. After recovering, Samson asked for a vacation and went on foot to Petersburg, where, as he knew from the roadside, captain Minsky was traveling. In St. Petersburg, he found Minsk and came to him. Minsk did not immediately recognize him, but when he found out, he began to assure Samson that he loved Dunya, would never leave her and make her happy. He gave the money-maker and escorted him out into the street.
Samson really wanted to see her daughter again. The case helped him. At Liteiny, he noticed Minsk in dandy droshky, who stopped at the entrance of a three-story building. Minsk entered the house, and the caretaker learned from the conversation with the coachman that Dunya was living here, and entered the entrance. Having got into the apartment, through the open door of the room he saw Minskoy and his Dunya, beautifully dressed and with an obscure look at Minsk. Noticing his father, Dunya uttered a cry and dropped to the carpet without memory. Angry Minsky pushed the old man onto the stairs, and he went home. And now for the third year he knows nothing about Dunya and is afraid that her fate is the same as the fate of many young fools.
After a while, the storyteller again happened to pass through these places. The station was gone, and Samson “died for a year”. The boy, the son of a brewer who settled in Samson’s hut, led the narrator to Samson’s grave and told him that in the summer a beautiful lady with three barchats came and lay for a long time at the grave of the superintendent, and gave him a nickle in silver, a kind lady.