On the twenty-fifth of March, a St. Petersburg barber Ivan Yakovlevich discovers a nose in a freshly baked bread. Ivan Yakovlevich with surprise learns that the nose belongs to one of his clients, collegiate assessor Kovalev. The barber tries to get rid of the nose: throws it out, but he is constantly indicated that he has dropped something. With great difficulty, Ivan Yakovlevich manages to toss his nose from the bridge to the Neva. And at this time the collegiate assessor wakes up and does not find a nose. He is shocked. Covering his face with a handkerchief, Kovalyov goes out into the street. He is very upset with what happened, because now he can not appear in the light, and besides he has many ladies, some of whom he does not mind getting riled up. Suddenly, he meets his own nose, dressed in a uniform and trousers, his nose sits in a carriage. Kovalev hurries after his nose, is in the cathedral. The nose earnestly prays. Kovalyov approaches him, explains the situation, asks that
his nose “return to his rightful place.” However, the nose pretends that Kovalev does not understand. Kovalev goes to the chief policeman, but he is not at home. Kovalev comes to the department of newspaper ads, hoping to announce the loss of the nose. But he is denied, since the announcement is too unusual and can damage the reputation of the newspaper. Upset Kovalev returns home. He reflects on who could play such a cruel joke with him. He suspects the staff of the officer, Podtochin, a lady familiar who wants to marry him to her daughter. It is possible that with the help of some magical tricks Podtochina made sure that Kovalev was left without a nose. And this is because he did not want to marry his daughter Podtochina! Angry Kovalev sends Podtochina a letter, in which he accuses her of the loss of her nose. In the reply letter, Subtotin sincerely marvels at such strange conclusions of the assessor. According to St. Petersburg, rumors are circulating about Kovalev’s nose walking along the streets. In the evening of the same day, the police inspector brings Kovalev his nose, adding that he managed to
catch him, since the nose was already getting into the diligence and was going to go to Riga. Kovalev thanks the warder, gives him a bank note, and when he leaves, tries to put his nose in place. To Kovalev’s horror, his nose does not hold and falls to the table. Kovalev sends for the doctor, but he also does not know how to help Kovalyov. Kovalev thinks that his life is meaningless now: no one is without a nose. … In the morning of April 7 Kovalev wakes up and is surprised to find that his nose is where it should be, between the cheeks. After a while the barber Ivan Yakovlevich arrives to shave Kovalev. But now, shaving Kovalev, he does not keep him for “the snuff of the body.” Although this is difficult, but from this day on, the barber, carrying out his usual work, rests his hand on the cheek and Kovalev’s lower gum.
