In the morning, near the house of Meropia Davydovna Murzavetskaya, "a girl of about sixty years old, <...> who has great power in the province," the artisans gathered - she owed them. Chugunov, a former member of the county court, comes up. Murzavetsky prude and a prankster, Chugunov conducts her affairs and manages the estate of the rich widow Kupavina, unscrupulously profiting. The hostess arrives and goes to the house with the rooters and poor relative Glafira. The butler Pavlin tells Chugunov that the nephew of Murzavetskaya Apollo, whom she wants to marry Kupavina, is a drunkard, “they are ashamed in the city, they will take their guns as if they were hunting, but they will cool down on the Razzorikha. And the inn is the most crappy, <...> on the sign "Here it is!" Is written. "

From there they bring Murzavetsky: "from hand to hand." He tries to look after Glafira, begs for a drink from Peacock, and after drinking, he is immediately rude. She doesn’t listen to the suggestions of her aunt; Murzavetskaya drives Apollo to sleep: “we’ll go to the bride in the evening” and sends for Chugunov. She spreads rumors in the province that the deceased husband Kupavina remained something due to the late father of Murzavetsky: just in case, that Kupavina was more accommodating. Chugunov is ready to fake a debt obligation. She allegedly cannot find Kupavin's letter, where he promises her a thousand "for the poor." Chugunov heard this, the "letter" is already ready; works, as he boasts, of his nephew, Goretsky. Lynyaev arrives, "a rich, obese master gentleman under fifty, an honorary justice of the peace", with Anfusa Tikhonovna, aunt Kupavina. He says that "some kind of hack <...> was wound up <...>, slander, and the most malicious, and forgeries began to affect." “May God give our calves and the wolf,” Meropia Davydovna snickers.

Kupavina brings the very thousand that her husband allegedly promised to Murzavetskaya. Meropia Davydovna pays part of this money to creditors. And "obeys" Glafira: to go to visit Kupavina and prevent her from approaching Lynyayev.

In the house of Kupavina, the hostess signs to Chugunova an empty form of a bill of exchange with such confidence and ignorance that he lets out a tear. He is replaced by Lynyaev. He brought a letter from an old acquaintance of Berkutov, who was about to arrive. Learning about the thousand and “debts”, Lynyaev was indignant: Kupavin “could not stand Murzavetskaya and called her a hypocrite”. Kupavina shows a letter. Lynyaev: “Do what you want to do with me, and this is a forgery. Who works for these things? ” He is trying to explain to Kupavina what it means to sign a bill of exchange form. Murzavetskaya arrives. Lynyaev leaves for the garden.

Murzavetskaya brings her nephew and Glafira. She is trying to intimidate Kupavina: Apollo is here "at his blood work", "this thing cries out to God," but it does not explain what the matter is. Kupavin enters, and Murzavetskaya leaves her with Apollo. The widow is extremely compliant and wants to listen to all her claims, but all the claims of the drunkard of Apollo are quite satisfied with five rubles from Kupavina, who, having escaped from him, hurries “to the ladies”. The Murzavets are leaving.

Kupavina stays with Glafira, who has serious views on rich Lynyaev, and, as soon as she finds out that he is not interested in Kupavin, she instantly transforms from the girl into "obedience" into a spectacular person, who, apparently, is ready to do anything.

At the fence of the garden, Kupavina Goretsky, extorting money from Chugunov, said: "If they give more, I will sell you, you know that." They are going away.

Kupavin, Glafira, Anfus, Lynyaev go for a walk. Lynyaev too lazy to go far, he remains. Glafira is with him: "My head is spinning with noise." And immediately Lynyaeva begins to court, allegedly openly: "there is no way to get carried away with you." Lynyaev, constantly saying: “I'm afraid they’re getting married,” but hurt; Glafira reports that she is going to the monastery and wants to “leave a good memory.” Lynyaev asks to provide a "small service" - to find a "good scribe." Glafira understood perfectly: this is about Goretsky. It turns out he writes her love letters. And she will immediately bring him to Lynyaev, and let him pretend to be in love with her for the evening. “It’s hard, but there’s nothing to do,” says Lynyaev.

With a walk, fleeing the harassment of a drunken Murzavetsky, they rush to the house of Anfus and Kupavin. Lynyaev chases him away. He leaves, threatening to "rob": "But pity Madame Kupavin, he will cry. Orevoire. "

Glafira and Goretsky are coming, and Lynyaev "outbids" Goretsky, who admits that he wrote a fake letter.

Glafira reminds Lynyaev of his promise. And he tells how she could make her marry herself, or rather, she plays her story with him; Lynyaev is clearly passionate.

The next morning, Kupavin and Glafira are waiting for the arrival of Lynyaev and Berkutov. Glafira is preoccupied - Lynyaev is in no hurry to explain, and Murzavetskaya is about to send for her. A footman enters: a letter from her and a tarantas. Kupavina reads the letter and gets lost: “Yesterday you didn’t like to accept my nephew. <...> Collecting a very large amount from you, which is what your entire estate is not worth, I will make with all severity and pity you <...> I will not. " Lynyaev and Berkutov arrive. And while the ladies change clothes, they are having a serious conversation. Berkutov asks Lynyaev not to interfere in the affairs of Kupavina and reports that he came to marry her.

Kupavina and Golden Eagles greet. Murzavetskaya sent for Glafira; Lynyaev learns about this with indifference made and goes for a walk in the garden, otherwise he’s “falling asleep”. Berkutov announces to Kupavina that he has arrived on business; and after listening to Kupavina’s story, she estimates her position as “unenviable.”

Berkutova asks Goretsky. He has already returned to Lynyaev his fifteen rubles, tomorrow he will receive fifty from Berkutov and will go to Vologda to survey his estate. A conversation with Kupavina Berkutov ends with an advice to marry Murzavetsky. Lynyaev enters: "he walked, walked in the garden, even worse - he tends to sleep." He is left on the couch and left to write a letter to Murzavetskaya. Glafira, stepping out from behind the curtains, rushes to him, hugs and plays the scene of passionate love in louder. Lynyaev is simply helpless. In the end, Kupavin, Berkutov and the footman appear: "Glafira Alekseevna, the horses are ready." But it's late. Murzavetskaya’s horses are no longer scary. “Ah, and the people are here! What have you done to me? What is Meropia Davydovna now? ” Glafira says already after Lynyaev said: “Well then. I am getting married".

In the house of Murzavetskaya Chugunov in every possible way incites to the revenge the already angry hostess. The goal of Chugunov is to knock out Meropa Davydovna to give a move to his fakes. One more - allegedly a letter of Kupavin to Apollo with the recognition of "debt" - in the appendix to the "bill of exchange". Chugunov also shows the technique - an old book, in which the document immediately fades. The whole question - “scare” or give a move in full form?

Berkutov comes, says courtesy: he brought Meropia Davydovna books of "spiritual content", he wants to run and counts on support and advice. It bows and catches itself: there is still a “small request”, “an assignment from my neighbor, Yevlampiya Nikolaevna.” A conversation quickly changes character. “What rascals they are, what they do to you!” - "Who is it, who?" - "Your nephew, Apollo, and company." - “Yes, do not forget, gracious sovereign!” - "What are they? They have nothing to lose. And a respectable lady to see in the dock! <...> It will reach the prosecutor, the investigation will begin. The main culprit, Goretsky, does not hide anything. <...> Fake bills have been written <...> I suspect your nephew, do not suspect you, indeed! ” - “No, no, not me, not me!”

And, having asked to call Chugunov, Berkutov gets down to business like this: "They talk about the Siberian Railway <...>, and if there are no physical obstacles, mountains, for example ..." - "Obstacles and mountains no, sir, a flat province. Just what will we deliver to Siberia, what products? ” - “There are products, Vukol Naumych!” “Products” for Siberia is Vukol Naumych and the company. Chugunov thanks for the warning and goes to destroy evidence. But Berkutov stops him: he should get as much as he can for his labors, and Kupavina is a small lesson. And Chugunov leaves, obliged around.

Then Kupavina’s wrestling without a hitch is played out, and then the triumph of Glafira, who came with a visit to show that “Michelle” is completely under her heel. The comic scene is not succumbed to abridged retelling. “Yes, there are wolves and sheep in the world,” says Lynyaev. The future Berkutovs go to Petersburg for the winter, the Lynyaevs - to Paris. After they left, Chugunov said to Meropia Davydovna: “Why did Lynyaev call us wolves? <...> We are hens, pigeons. <...> There they are, wolves! These people immediately swallow a lot. ”

Murzavetsky cries out: “The wolves ate Tamerlane!” “What is Tamerlan,” Chugunov consoles him, “here, just now, the wolves ate your bride and dowry and Lynyaeva. Yes, and your aunt and I were a little alive. This will be a little curious. ”