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Summary of the captain's daughter chapter 4. "The Captain's Daughter" A

The novel tells the story of the life of the young officer Pyotr Andreevich Grinev, who unwittingly became a participant in the events that occurred during the reign of Catherine II. These events are recorded in history as “Pugachevism”. The basis for the work is the memories of the main character. He tells his biography. At the place of his service, Peter finds his true love and, having gone through all the trials of fate, marries and continues to live, not forgetting what he had to endure.

The manifestation of willpower, courage and kindness of the main characters shows readers that they cannot give up and give up, but must go to the end and help those who need it.

Read the summary of Pushkin The Captain's Daughter in chapters

Chapter 1

The first chapter describes the childhood of Pyotr Grinev. From the age of five he was educated and taught to read and write by the eager Savelich. Having reached the age of 17, Petrusha goes to Orenburg with her teacher. Along the way, they stop in Simbirsk, where in a tavern Grinev loses 100 rubles to his new acquaintance, captain Ivan Zurin.

Chapter 2

On the road, Peter and Savelich fall into chains snow storm and cannot continue their journey. While they are leaving the snowy captivity, Grinev sees in a dream a man with a black beard and an ax in his hands. He helps them leave stranger and brings them to the hut for the night. In the morning, Petrusha gives the savior her sheepskin coat. Having arrived at his destination, Pyotr Andreevich learns that he will then have to go to the Belogorsk fortress.

Chapter 3

In the fortress, Grinev meets its inhabitants and develops a new friend Alexey Shvabrin, who was imprisoned for murder in a duel. Alexei speaks poorly of the captain's daughter and condemns her. Having met
her, Peter begins to distrust Shvabrin, since he turns out to be wrong.

Chapter 4

Pyotr Andreevich likes it in the fortress, he begins to write poems for Masha, and Shvabrin ridicules them and continues to talk badly about the commandant’s daughter. Peter cannot stand it and challenges Shvabrin to a duel, in which he is subsequently wounded.

Chapter 5

Peter lies in bed and Masha takes care of him. Suddenly he begins to realize that he is in love with her and decides to write a letter to his father, asking for his blessing. In response, his father sends him a refusal and scolds Grinev for his tricks.

Chapter 6

An order comes to the fortress to prepare for defense. There are rumors about the leader of the peasant uprising, Emelyan Pugachev, who with his retinue robs and kills people. Mironov wants to send his wife and daughter to Orenburg, but Vasilisa Egorovna refuses the trip, and they don’t have time to take Masha away.

Chapter 7

The fortress was conquered quickly; there were too many people on the ataman’s side. Pugachev summons everyone to his oath; Captain Mironov and those who did not bow to the impostor were immediately hanged. Grinev was also led to the gallows, but Savelich was able to prevent Petrusha’s death by promising a reward for him from his parents.

Chapter 8

Shvabrin took the oath to Pugachev. Masha remains besieged by the fortress. Peter is brought to Emelyan and he remembers where he saw him. He dreamed about him, and then showed him the way when they got stuck in a snowstorm. Pugachev remembered Peter’s gift and pardoned him.

Chapter 9

The next day, Emelyan sent Grinev to Orenburg to tell him that the city would soon be captured and destroyed. Having said goodbye to Masha, Peter and Savelich go on foot to Orenburg, but soon Pugachev’s close associate catches up with them and leaves them a horse and a fur coat.

Chapter 10

In Orenburg, Peter goes to the commander-in-chief and explains to him that it is better to prepare a defense than to go on the attack. At the time appointed by Emelyan, the robbers besieged the city. Grinev receives a letter from Masha, where she tells him that Shvabrin is keeping her locked up and forcing her to marry him.

Chapter 11

Peter decides to save his beloved himself and goes to his enemy, but they are attacked by Pugachev’s people and taken to him. Grinev tells Emelyan about Shvabrin’s action. Pugachev travels with Peter to the fortress to free Masha.

Chapter 12

Emelyan gives the order to release the captive girl and releases them along with Grinev. He gives the young people a pass on the journey so that they can travel without attacks by robbers.

Chapter 13

On the way, they are arrested, mistaking Pugachev for people. It soon turns out that the head of the convoy is an acquaintance of Peter’s – Zurin. Masha and Savelich continue their journey home, and Peter remains with the military and helps them catch the chieftain and his supporters. Soon Pugachev is caught, and Peter is arrested and taken for interrogation.

Chapter 14

Masha goes to St. Petersburg to help Grinev. Quite by accident, she starts a conversation with a woman and tells her about her grief; Masha soon finds out that her interlocutor was the empress herself. Catherine II, imbued with Masha’s story, cancels the punishment for Peter. Grinev comes to Pugachev’s execution and he nods to him as if he were his friend.

Picture or drawing of the captain's daughter

Sergeant of the Guard

The main character of the novel, Pyotr Andreevich Grinev, remembers. He was born into the family of a small landowner. Grinev's father is a retired officer. Even before the birth of his son, he assigned him as a sergeant to the Semenovsky Guards Regiment.

When Peter was five years old, his father assigned a servant, Arkhip Savelich, to him to raise the little master. The servant taught the boy Russian literacy and understanding of hunting dogs. At the age of twelve, a French teacher, Beaupre, was assigned to Petit. But he became addicted to vodka and did not miss a single skirt, completely forgetting about his duties.

One day, the maids complained about the teacher, and Grinev’s father came straight to class. The drunken Frenchman was sleeping, and Petya was making a kite out of a geographical map. The angry father kicked the Frenchman out. That was the end of Petya's studies.

Grinev turns sixteen, and his father sends him to serve. But not to St. Petersburg, but to his good friend in Orenburg. Savelich is also traveling with Petya. In Simbirsk, at an inn, Grinev meets the hussar captain Zurin, who teaches him to play billiards. Peter gets drunk and loses a hundred rubles to the military man. In the morning he moves on.

Chapter II

Counselor

On the way to their duty station, Grinev and Savelich lose their way. A lone wanderer leads them to an inn. There, Peter manages to get a good look at his guide. This is a black-bearded man of about forty, strong, lively and of the most robber appearance. He enters into a strange conversation with the owner of the inn, full of allegories.

Grinev gives the guide his sheepskin coat, since the black-bearded man is practically naked. The guide pulls on his sheepskin coat, although it is bursting at the seams, and promises to remember the kindness of the young master forever.

The next day, Grinev arrives in Orenburg and introduces himself to the general, who, on the advice of Petya’s father, sends the young man to the Belogorsk fortress under the command of Captain Mironov.

Chapter III

Fortress

Grinev arrives at the Belogorsk fortress. It is a village surrounded by a palisade with a single cannon. Captain Ivan Kuzmich Mironov is a gray-haired old man, under whose command about a hundred old soldiers and two officers serve. One of them is the elderly one-eyed lieutenant Ivan Ignatich, the second is Alexey Shvabrin, exiled to this outback for a duel.

Peter is settled in peasant hut. That same evening he meets Shvabrin, who describes the captain’s family in person: his wife Vasilisa Egorovna and daughter Masha. Vasilisa Egorovna commands both her husband and the entire garrison, and Masha, according to Shvabrin, is a terrible coward. Grinev himself meets Mironov and his family, as well as the constable Maksimych. He is horrified by the upcoming service, which seems endless and boring to him.

Chapter IV

Duel

The idea of the service turned out to be wrong. Grinev quickly liked the Belogorsk fortress. There are no guards or exercises here. The captain sometimes drills the soldiers, but so far he cannot get them to distinguish between “left” and “right”.

Grinev almost becomes part of Mironov’s house and falls in love with Masha. And he likes Shvabrin less and less. Alexey makes fun of everyone and speaks badly about people.

Grinev dedicates poems to Masha and reads them to Shvabrin, since he is the only person in the fortress who understands poetry. But Alexey cruelly ridicules the young author and his feelings. He advises giving Masha earrings instead of poetry and assures that he himself has experienced the correctness of this approach.

Grinev is offended and calls Shvabrin a liar. Alexey challenges the young man to a duel. Peter asks Ivan Ignatich to become a second. However, the old lieutenant does not understand such a cruel showdown.

After lunch, Grinev informs Shvabrin about his failure. Then Alexey suggests doing without seconds. The opponents agree to meet in the morning, but as soon as they meet with swords in their hands, they are arrested by soldiers led by a lieutenant.

Vasilisa Egorovna forces the duelists to reconcile. Shvabrin and Grinev pretend to make peace and are released. Masha says that Alexey has already wooed her and was refused. Now Peter understands the anger with which Shvabrin slanders the girl.

The next day, the opponents again converge at the river. Shvabrin is surprised that Grinev can give such a worthy rebuff. Peter manages to push the officer back, but at this time Savelich calls out to the young man. Grinev turns around sharply and is wounded in the chest.

Chapter V

Love

The wound is serious, Peter comes to his senses only on the fourth day. Shvabrin asks for forgiveness and receives it from his opponent. Masha takes care of Grinev. Peter, taking advantage of the moment, declares his love for her and learns that the girl also has tender feelings for him. Grinev writes a letter home in which he asks for his parents' blessing for the marriage. But the father refuses and threatens to transfer his son to another place so that he does not fool around. The letter also says that Mother Grineva fell ill.

Peter is depressed. He did not write anything to his father about the duel. How did her mother know about her? Grinev decides that Savelich reported this. But the old servant is offended by such suspicion. As proof, Savelich brings a letter from Grinev’s father, in which he scolds the old man for not reporting the injury. Peter learns that Mironov also did not write to his parents and did not report to the general. Now the young man is sure that Shvabrin did this to upset his marriage with Masha.

Having learned that there will be no parental blessing, Masha refuses the wedding.

Chapter VI

Pugachevshchina

At the beginning of October 1773, a message about the Pugachev rebellion arrived. Despite all the precautions and Mironov’s attempts to keep this a secret, the rumor spreads instantly.

The captain sends constable Maksimych on reconnaissance. Two days later he returns with the news that he is moving enormous strength. There is unrest among the Cossacks. The baptized Kalmyk Yulay reports that Maksimych met with Pugachev and went over to his side, and is now inciting the Cossacks to revolt. Mironov arrests Maksimych and puts Yulay in his place.

Events are developing rapidly: the constable runs away from the guard, the Cossacks are dissatisfied, a Bashkir is captured with Pugachev’s appeal. It is not possible to interrogate him because the prisoner does not have a tongue. Vasilisa Yegorovna bursts into a meeting of officers with bad news: the neighboring fortress was taken, the officers were executed. It becomes clear that soon the rebels will be under the walls of the Belogorsk fortress.

It was decided to send Masha and Vasilisa Egorovna to Orenburg.

Chapter VII

Attack

In the morning, Grinev learns that the Cossacks left the fortress and forcibly took Yulay with them. Masha did not have time to leave for Orenburg - the road was blocked. Already at dawn, Cossack and Bashkir patrols appeared near the fortress. By order of the captain, they are driven away by cannon shots, but soon the main force of the Pugachevites appears. In front is Emelyan himself in a red caftan on a white horse.

Four traitor Cossacks approach the walls of the fortress. They offer to surrender and recognize Pugachev as sovereign. The Cossacks throw Yulay's head over the palisade straight to Mironov's feet. The captain orders to shoot. One of the negotiators is killed, the rest rush away.

The assault on the fortress begins. Mironov says goodbye to his wife and blesses the frightened Masha. Vasilisa Egorovna takes the girl away. The commandant manages to fire the cannon again, then he orders the gates to be opened and rushes into a sortie. But the soldiers do not follow the commander. The attackers break into the fortress.

Grinev is tied up and brought to the square where the Pugachevites are building a gallows. People gather, many greet the rebels with bread and salt. The impostor sits in a chair on the porch of the commandant's house and takes the oath from the prisoners. Ivan Ignatich and Mironov refuse to take the oath. They are immediately hanged.

It’s Grinev’s turn. With surprise, he recognizes Shvabrin among the rebels. Peter is led to the gallows, but then Savelich falls at Pugachev’s feet. The servant manages to beg for mercy, and Grinev is released.

Vasilisa Yegorovna is taken out of the house. Seeing her husband on the gallows, she calls Pugachev an escaped convict. The old woman is killed.

Chapter VIII

Uninvited guest

Grinev is trying to find out about Masha’s fate. It turns out that she is lying unconscious with the priest, who passes the girl off as his seriously ill niece.

Grinev returns to his looted apartment. Savelich explains why Pugachev suddenly spared the young man. This is the same guide to whom the young officer gave the hare sheepskin coat.

Pugachev sends for Grinev. The young man comes to the commandant's house, where he has lunch with the rebels. During the meal, a military council takes place, at which the rebels decide to march on Orenburg. Afterwards everyone disperses, but Pugachev leaves Grinev alone to talk. He again demands to swear allegiance, but Peter refuses. Grinev cannot promise that he will not fight against Pugachev. He is an officer, therefore he is obliged to carry out the orders of his commanders.

The young man's honesty wins over the rebel leader. Pugachev releases Peter.

Chapter IX

Parting

In the morning, the impostor emerges from the fortress. Before leaving, Savelich approaches him with a list of goods that the rebels took from Grinev. At the end of the list a hare sheepskin coat is mentioned. Pugachev gets angry and throws the paper away. He leaves, leaving Shvabrin as commandant.

Grinev rushes to the priest to find out about Masha’s condition. He is informed that the girl is in a fever and delirious. Peter has to leave his beloved. He can neither take her out nor stay in the fortress.

With heavy hearts, Grinev and Savelich wander on foot to Orenburg. Suddenly they are overtaken by the former Cossack constable Maksimych, who is leading an excellent Bashkir horse. It was Pugachev who ordered to give the young officer a horse and a sheepskin coat. Grinev gratefully accepts the gift.

Chapter X

Siege of the city

Peter arrives in Orenburg and reports to the general about what happened in the fortress. The council decides not to oppose the impostor, but to defend the city. Peter is very worried that he cannot help Masha in any way.

Soon Pugachev’s army appears and the siege of Orenburg begins. Grinev often goes on forays. Thanks to a fast horse and luck, he manages to remain unharmed.

In one of his forays, Peter runs into Maksimych, who gives him a letter from Masha. The girl writes that Shvabrin took her from the priest’s house and is forcing her to become his wife. Grinev asks the general for a company of soldiers to liberate the Belogorsk fortress, but is refused.

Chapter XI

Rebel settlement

Grinev is planning to flee Orenburg. Together with Savelich, he safely leaves in the direction of the Berdskaya Settlement, occupied by the Pugachevites. Peter hopes to drive around the settlement in the dark, but stumbles upon a detachment of patrolmen. However, he manages to escape. Unfortunately, Savelich is detained.

Peter returns to rescue the old man and is also captured. Pugachev immediately recognizes Grinev and asks why the young officer left Orenburg. Peter says that he wants to free the orphan who is being offended by Shvabrin.

Pugachev is angry with Shvabrin and threatens to hang him. The impostor's adviser, fugitive corporal Beloborodov, does not believe Grinev's story. He believes that the young officer is a spy. Unexpectedly, another adviser to Pugachev, the convict Khlopusha, stands up for Peter. Things almost come to a fight, but the impostor pacifies the advisers. Pugachev undertakes to arrange the wedding of Peter and Masha.

Chapter XII

Orphan

Arriving at the Belogorodskaya fortress, Pugachev demands to show him the girl whom Shvabrin is keeping under arrest. Alexey makes excuses, but the impostor insists. Shvabrin leads Pugachev and Grinev into a room where an exhausted Masha is sitting on the floor.

Pugachev asks the girl why her husband punished her. Masha indignantly replies that she would rather die than become Shvabrin’s wife. Pugachev is dissatisfied with Alexey's deception. He tells Shvabrin to write out a pass and lets the young couple go on all fours.

Chapter XIII

Arrest

Grinev and Masha hit the road. In fortresses and villages captured by the rebels, no obstacles are put in their way. There is a rumor that it is Pugachev's godfather who is traveling. The couple enters a town in which a large detachment of Pugachevites should be stationed. But it turns out that this place has already been vacated. They want to arrest Grinev, he bursts into the room where the officers are sitting. Fortunately, the garrison is headed by an old acquaintance, Zurin.

Peter sends Masha and Savelich to his parents, while he himself remains in Zurin’s detachment. Soon government troops lift the siege of Orenburg. The news of the final victory arrives. The impostor is captured, the war is over. Grinev is going home, but Zurin receives an order to arrest him.

Chapter XIV

Court

Grinev is accused of treason and espionage for Pugachev. The main witness is Shvabrin. Grinev does not want to make excuses so as not to drag Masha into the trial, who will be called as a witness or even an accomplice.

They want to hang Peter, but Empress Catherine, taking pity on his elderly father, exchanges the execution for eternal settlement in Siberia. Masha decides to throw herself at the empress’s feet and ask for mercy. She is going to St. Petersburg.

Stopping at an inn, the girl learns that the hostess is the niece of the court stoker. This woman helps the girl get into the garden of Tsarskoye Selo, where Masha meets an important lady. The girl tells her story, and she promises to help.

Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin

Captain's daughter

Take care of your honor from a young age.

Proverb

CHAPTER I. SERGEANT OF THE GUARD.

If only he were a guard captain tomorrow.

This is not necessary; let him serve in the army.

Well said! let him push...

Who's his father?

Knyazhnin.

My father Andrei Petrovich Grinev in his youth served under Count Minich, and retired as prime minister in 17.. Since then, he lived in his Simbirsk village, where he married the girl Avdotya Vasilyevna Yu., the daughter of a poor nobleman there. There were nine of us children. All my brothers and sisters died in infancy.

Mother was still pregnant with me, as I had already been enlisted in the Semenovsky regiment as a sergeant, by the grace of Major of the Guard Prince B., a close relative of ours. If, beyond all hope, mother had given birth to a daughter, then the priest would have announced the death of the sergeant who had not appeared, and that would have been the end of the matter. I was considered on leave until I finished my studies. At that time, we were not brought up like today. From the age of five I was given into the hands of the eager Savelich, who was granted my uncle status for his sober behavior. Under his supervision, in my twelfth year, I learned Russian literacy and could very sensibly judge the properties of a greyhound dog. At this time, the priest hired a Frenchman for me, Monsieur Beaupré, who was discharged from Moscow along with a year's supply of wine and Provençal oil. Savelich did not like his arrival very much. “Thank God,” he grumbled to himself, “it seems the child is washed, combed, and fed. Where should we spend the extra money, and hire monsieur, as if our people were gone!”

Beaupré was a hairdresser in his homeland, then a soldier in Prussia, then he came to Russia pour Étre outchitel, not really understanding the meaning of this word. He was a kind fellow, but flighty and dissolute to the extreme. His main weakness was his passion for the fair sex; Not infrequently, for his tenderness, he received pushes, from which he groaned for whole days. Moreover, he was not (as he put it) an enemy of the bottle, that is, (speaking in Russian) he loved to drink too much. But since we served wine only at dinner, and then only in small glasses, and the teachers usually carried it around, my Beaupre very soon got used to the Russian liqueur, and even began to prefer it to the wines of his fatherland, as it was much healthier for the stomach. We hit it off immediately, and although according to the contract he was obliged to teach me French, German and all sciences, he preferred to quickly learn from me how to chat in Russian - and then each of us went about our own business. We lived in perfect harmony. I didn't want any other mentor. But soon fate separated us, and for this reason:

The washerwoman Palashka, a fat and pockmarked girl, and the crooked cowwoman Akulka somehow agreed at the same time to throw themselves at mother’s feet, blaming themselves for their criminal weakness and complaining with tears about the monsieur who had seduced their inexperience. Mother didn’t like to joke about this, and complained to the priest. His reprisal was short. He immediately demanded the Frenchman's channel. They reported that Monsieur was giving me his lesson. Father went to my room. At this time, Beaupre was sleeping on the bed in the sleep of innocence. I was busy with business. You need to know that for me she was discharged from Moscow geographic map. It hung on the wall without any use and had long tempted me with the width and goodness of the paper. I decided to make snakes out of it, and taking advantage of Beaupre's sleep, I set to work. Father came in at the same time as I was adjusting the bast tail to the Cape Good Hope. Seeing my exercises in geography, the priest pulled me by the ear, then ran up to Beaupre, woke him up very carelessly, and began to shower him with reproaches. Beaupre, in confusion, wanted to get up, but could not: the unfortunate Frenchman was dead drunk. Seven troubles, one answer. Father lifted him out of bed by the collar, pushed him out of the door, and on the same day drove him out of the yard, to Savelich’s indescribable joy. That was the end of my upbringing.

I lived as a teenager, chasing pigeons and playing chakharda with the yard boys. Meanwhile, I was sixteen years old. Then my fate changed.

One autumn, my mother was making honey jam in the living room and I, licking my lips, looked at the seething foam. Father at the window was reading the Court Calendar, which he received annually. This book always had a strong influence on him: he never re-read it without special participation, and reading this always produced in him an amazing excitement of bile. Mother, who knew by heart all his habits and customs, always tried to shove the unfortunate book as far away as possible, and thus the Court Calendar did not come into his sight sometimes for entire months. But when he found it by chance, he would not let it out of his hands for hours at a time. So the priest read the Court Calendar, occasionally shrugging his shoulders and repeating in a low voice: “Lieutenant General!.. He was a sergeant in my company!... Both Russian orders Cavalier!.. How long ago have we been…” Finally, the priest threw the calendar on the sofa and plunged into reverie, which did not bode well.

Suddenly he turned to his mother: “Avdotya Vasilyevna, how old is Petrusha?”

“Yes, I’ve reached my seventeenth year,” answered my mother. - Petrusha was born in the same year that Aunt Nastasya Garasimovna became sad, and when else...

“Okay,” interrupted the priest, “it’s time for him to go into service. It’s enough for him to run around the maidens and climb dovecotes.”

The thought of imminent separation from me struck my mother so much that she dropped the spoon into the saucepan and tears streamed down her face. On the contrary, it is difficult to describe my admiration. The thought of service merged in me with thoughts of freedom, of the pleasures of St. Petersburg life. I imagined myself as a guard officer, which in my opinion was the height of human well-being.

Father did not like to change his intentions or postpone their implementation. The day for my departure was set. The day before, the priest announced that he intended to write with me to my future boss, and demanded pen and paper.

“Don’t forget, Andrei Petrovich,” said mother, “to bow to Prince B. for me; I say I hope that he will not abandon Petrusha with his favors.”

What nonsense! - answered the priest, frowning. - Why on earth would I write to Prince B.?

“But you said that you would like to write to Petrusha’s boss.”

Well, what's there?

“But the chief Petrushin is Prince B. After all, Petrusha is enrolled in the Semenovsky regiment.”

Recorded by! Why do I care that it’s recorded? Petrusha will not go to St. Petersburg. What will he learn while serving in St. Petersburg? hang out and hang out? No, let him serve in the army, let him pull the strap, let him smell gunpowder, let him be a soldier, not a chamaton. Enlisted in the Guard! Where is his passport? give it here.

Mother found my passport, which was kept in her box along with the shirt in which I was baptized, and handed it to the priest with a trembling hand. Father read it with attention, placed it on the table in front of him, and began his letter.

Curiosity tormented me: where are they sending me, if not to St. Petersburg? I didn’t take my eyes off Father’s pen, which was moving quite slowly. Finally he finished, sealed the letter in the same bag with his passport, took off his glasses, and calling me over, said: “Here is a letter to Andrei Karlovich R., my old comrade and friend. You are going to Orenburg to serve under his command.”

So all my brilliant hopes were dashed! Instead of a cheerful life in St. Petersburg, boredom awaited me in a remote and remote place. The service, which I had been thinking about with such delight for a minute, seemed to me like a grave misfortune. But there was no point in arguing. The next day, in the morning, a road wagon was brought to the porch; They put a chamodan, a cellar with a tea set and bundles with buns and pies, the last signs of home pampering. My parents blessed me. Father told me: “Goodbye, Peter. Serve faithfully to whom you pledge allegiance; obey your superiors; Don’t chase their affection; don’t ask for service; do not dissuade yourself from serving; and remember the proverb: take care of your dress when it’s new, and take care of your honor when you’re young.” Mother, in tears, ordered me to take care of my health and Savelich to look after the child. They put a bunny sheepskin coat on me, and a fox fur coat on top. I got into the wagon with Savelich and set off on the road, shedding tears.

Take care of your honor from a young age.

Chapter I
Sergeant of the Guard

“If only he were a guard captain tomorrow.”

- That’s not necessary; let him serve in the army.

- Well said! let him push...

………………………………………………………

Who's his father?

My father, Andrei Petrovich Grinev, in his youth served under Count Minich and retired as prime minister in 17.... Since then, he lived in his Simbirsk village, where he married the girl Avdotya Vasilievna Yu., the daughter of a poor nobleman there. There were nine of us children. All my brothers and sisters died in infancy.

Mother was still pregnant with me, as I had already been enlisted in the Semenovsky regiment as a sergeant, by the grace of Guard Major Prince B., a close relative of ours. If, more than anything else, mother had given birth to a daughter, then the priest would have announced the death of the sergeant who had not appeared, and that would have been the end of the matter. I was considered on leave until I finished my studies. At that time, we were not brought up in the traditional way. From the age of five I was given into the hands of the eager Savelich, who was granted my uncle status for his sober behavior. Under his supervision, in my twelfth year, I learned Russian literacy and could very sensibly judge the properties of a greyhound dog. At this time, the priest hired a Frenchman for me, Monsieur Beaupré, who was discharged from Moscow along with a year's supply of wine and Provençal oil. Savelich did not like his arrival very much. “Thank God,” he grumbled to himself, “it seems the child is washed, combed, and fed. Where should we spend extra money and hire monsieur, as if our people were gone!”

Beaupre was a hairdresser in his homeland, then a soldier in Prussia, then he came to Russia pour être outchitel, not really understanding the meaning of this word. He was a kind fellow, but flighty and dissolute to the extreme. His main weakness was his passion for the fair sex; Often, for his tenderness, he received pushes, from which he groaned for whole days. Moreover, he was not (as he put it) and the enemy of the bottle, that is (speaking in Russian) he liked to take a sip too much. But since we only served wine at dinner, and then only in small glasses, and the teachers usually carried it around, my Beaupre very soon got used to the Russian liqueur and even began to prefer it to the wines of his fatherland, as it was much healthier for the stomach. We hit it off immediately, and although he was contractually obligated to teach me in French, German and all sciences, but he preferred to quickly learn from me how to chat in Russian, and then each of us went about his own business. We lived in perfect harmony. I didn't want any other mentor. But soon fate separated us, and for this reason.

The washerwoman Palashka, a fat and pockmarked girl, and the crooked cowwoman Akulka somehow agreed at the same time to throw themselves at mother’s feet, blaming themselves for their criminal weakness and complaining with tears about the monsieur who had seduced their inexperience. Mother didn’t like to joke about this and complained to the priest. His reprisal was short. He immediately demanded the Frenchman's channel. They reported that Monsieur was giving me his lesson. Father went to my room. At this time, Beaupre was sleeping on the bed in the sleep of innocence. I was busy with business. You need to know that a geographical map was issued for me from Moscow. It hung on the wall without any use and had long tempted me with the width and goodness of the paper. I decided to make snakes out of it and, taking advantage of Beaupre's sleep, I set to work. Father came in at the same time as I was adjusting the bast tail to the Cape of Good Hope. Seeing my exercises in geography, the priest pulled me by the ear, then ran up to Beaupre, woke him up very carelessly and began to shower him with reproaches. Beaupre, in confusion, wanted to get up but could not: the unfortunate Frenchman was dead drunk. Seven troubles, one answer. Father lifted him out of bed by the collar, pushed him out of the door and drove him out of the yard that same day, to Savelich’s indescribable joy. That was the end of my upbringing.

I lived as a teenager, chasing pigeons and playing leapfrog with the yard boys. Meanwhile, I was sixteen years old. Then my fate changed.

One autumn, my mother was making honey jam in the living room, and I, licking my lips, looked at the seething foam. Father at the window was reading the Court Calendar, which he receives every year. This book always had a strong influence on him: he never re-read it without special participation, and reading this always produced in him an amazing excitement of bile. Mother, who knew by heart all his habits and customs, always tried to shove the unfortunate book as far away as possible, and thus the Court Calendar did not catch his eye sometimes for entire months. But when he found it by chance, he would not let it out of his hands for hours at a time. So, the priest read the Court Calendar, occasionally shrugging his shoulders and repeating in a low voice: “Lieutenant General!.. He was a sergeant in my company!.. He was a holder of both Russian orders!.. How long ago have we…” Finally, the priest threw the calendar on the sofa and plunged into reverie, which did not bode well.

Suddenly he turned to his mother: “Avdotya Vasilyevna, how old is Petrusha?”

“Yes, I’ve just reached my seventeenth year,” answered my mother. “Petrusha was born in the same year that Aunt Nastasya Gerasimovna became sad, and when else...

“Okay,” interrupted the priest, “it’s time for him to go into service. It’s enough for him to run around the maidens and climb dovecotes.”

“Don’t forget, Andrei Petrovich,” said mother, “to bow to Prince B. for me; I, they say, hope that he will not abandon Petrusha with his favors.

- What nonsense! - answered the priest, frowning. - Why on earth would I write to Prince B.?

“But you said that you would like to write to Petrusha’s boss.”

- Well, what’s there?

- But the chief Petrushin is Prince B. After all, Petrusha is enrolled in the Semenovsky regiment.

- Recorded by! Why do I care that it’s recorded? Petrusha will not go to St. Petersburg. What will he learn while serving in St. Petersburg? hang out and hang out? No, let him serve in the army, let him pull the strap, let him smell gunpowder, let him be a soldier, not a chamaton. Enlisted in the Guard! Where is his passport? give it here.

Curiosity tormented me: where are they sending me, if not to St. Petersburg? I didn’t take my eyes off Father’s pen, which was moving quite slowly. Finally he finished, sealed the letter in the same bag with his passport, took off his glasses and, calling me, said: “Here is a letter for you to Andrei Karlovich R., my old comrade and friend. You are going to Orenburg to serve under his command.”

So, all my bright hopes were dashed! Instead of a cheerful life in St. Petersburg, boredom awaited me in a remote and remote place. The service, which I had been thinking about with such delight for a minute, seemed to me like a grave misfortune. But there was no point in arguing! The next day, in the morning, a road wagon was brought to the porch; They packed it with a suitcase, a cellar with a tea set, and bundles of buns and pies, the last signs of home pampering. My parents blessed me. Father told me: “Goodbye, Peter. Serve faithfully to whom you pledge allegiance; obey your superiors; Don’t chase their affection; don’t ask for service; do not dissuade yourself from serving; and remember the proverb: take care of your dress again, but take care of your honor from a young age.” Mother, in tears, ordered me to take care of my health and Savelich to look after the child. They put a hare sheepskin coat on me, and a fox fur coat on top. I got into the wagon with Savelich and set off on the road, shedding tears.

That same night I arrived in Simbirsk, where I was supposed to stay for a day to purchase the necessary things, which was entrusted to Savelich. I stopped at a tavern. Savelich went to the shops in the morning. Bored of looking out the window at the dirty alley, I went to wander through all the rooms. Entering the billiard room, I saw a tall gentleman, about thirty-five, with a long black mustache, in a dressing gown, with a cue in his hand and a pipe in his teeth. He played with a marker, who, when he won, drank a glass of vodka, and when he lost, he had to crawl under the billiards on all fours. I started watching them play. The longer it went on, the more frequent the walks on all fours became, until finally the marker remained under the billiards. The master uttered several strong expressions over him in the form of a funeral word and invited me to play a game. I refused out of incompetence. This apparently seemed strange to him. He looked at me as if with regret; however, we started talking. I found out that his name is Ivan Ivanovich Zurin, that he is the captain of the ** hussar regiment and is in Simbirsk receiving recruits, and is standing in a tavern. Zurin invited me to dine with him as God sent, like a soldier. I readily agreed. We sat down at the table. Zurin drank a lot and treated me too, saying that I needed to get used to the service; he told me army jokes that almost made me laugh, and we left the table perfect friends. Then he volunteered to teach me to play billiards. “This,” he said, “is necessary for our serving brother. On a hike, for example, you come to a place - what do you want to do? After all, it’s not all about beating the Jews. Involuntarily, you will go to a tavern and start playing billiards; and for that you need to know how to play!” I was completely convinced and began to study with great diligence. Zurin loudly encouraged me, marveled at my quick successes and, after several lessons, invited me to play for money, one penny at a time, not to win, but so as not to play for nothing, which, according to him, is the worst habit. I agreed to this too, and Zurin ordered punch to be served and persuaded me to try, repeating that I needed to get used to the service; and without punch, what is the service! I listened to him. Meanwhile, our game continued. The more often I sipped from my glass, the more courageous I became. Balls kept flying over my side; I got excited, scolded the marker, who counted God knows how, increased the game hour by hour, in a word, I behaved like a boy who had broken free. Meanwhile, time passed unnoticed. Zurin looked at his watch, put down his cue and announced to me that I had lost a hundred rubles. This confused me a little. Savelich had my money. I started apologizing. Zurin interrupted me: “Have mercy! Don't worry. I can wait, but in the meantime we’ll go to Arinushka.”

What do you want? I ended the day as dissolutely as I started it. We had dinner at Arinushka's. Zurin kept adding more to me every minute, repeating that I needed to get used to the service. Getting up from the table, I could barely stand; at midnight Zurin took me to the tavern.

Savelich met us on the porch. He gasped when he saw the unmistakable signs of my zeal for service. “What has happened to you, sir? - he said in a pitiful voice, - where did you load this? Oh my goodness! Such a sin has never happened in my life!” - “Be quiet, you bastard! “I answered him, stuttering, “you’re probably drunk, go to bed... and put me to bed.”

The next day I woke up with a headache, vaguely remembering yesterday’s incidents. My thoughts were interrupted by Savelich, who came to me with a cup of tea. “It’s early, Pyotr Andreich,” he told me, shaking his head, “you start walking early. And who did you go to? It seems that neither the father nor the grandfather were drunkards; There’s nothing to say about my mother: from her childhood she never deigned to take anything into her mouth except kvass. And who is to blame for everything? damn monsieur. Every now and then, he would run to Antipyevna: “Madam, wow, vodka.” So much for you! There is nothing to say: he taught me good things, son of a dog. And it was necessary to hire an infidel as an uncle, as if the master no longer had his own people!”

I was ashamed. I turned away and told him: “Get out, Savelich; I don’t want tea.” But it was difficult to calm Savelich down when he started preaching. “You see, Pyotr Andreich, what it’s like to cheat. And my head feels heavy, and I don’t want to eat. A person who drinks is good for nothing... Take a drink cucumber pickle with honey, but it would be better to get over your hangover with half a glass of tincture. Would you like to order it?"

At this time, the boy came in and gave me a note from I.I. Zurin. I unfolded it and read the following lines:

“Dear Pyotr Andreevich, please send me and my boy the hundred rubles that you lost to me yesterday. To me extreme need in money.

Ready for service

Ivan Zurin."

There was nothing to do. I assumed an indifferent look and, turning to Savelich, who was and money, and linen, and my affairs, a steward, ordered to give the boy one hundred rubles. "How! For what?" – asked the amazed Savelich. “I owe them to him,” I answered with all possible coldness. "Must! - Savelich objected, more and more astonished from time to time, - but when, sir, did you manage to owe him? Something is wrong. It’s your will, sir, but I won’t give you any money.”

I thought that if at this decisive moment I did not overcome the stubborn old man, then in the future it would be difficult for me to free myself from his tutelage, and, looking at him proudly, I said: “I am your master, and you are my servant. The money is mine. I lost them because I felt like it. And I advise you not to be smart and do what you are ordered.”

Savelich was so amazed by my words that he clasped his hands and was dumbfounded. “Why are you standing there!” – I shouted angrily. Savelich began to cry. “Father Pyotr Andreich,” he said in a trembling voice, “don’t kill me with sadness. You are my light! listen to me, old man: write to this robber that you were joking, that we don’t even have that kind of money. One hundred rubles! God you are merciful! Tell me that your parents firmly ordered you not to play, except like nuts...” - “Stop lying,” I interrupted sternly, “give me the money here or I’ll drive you away.”

Savelich looked at me with deep sorrow and went to collect my debt. I felt sorry for the poor old man; but I wanted to break free and prove that I was no longer a child. The money was delivered to Zurin. Savelich hastened to take me out of the damned tavern. He came with the news that the horses were ready. With an uneasy conscience and silent repentance, I left Simbirsk, without saying goodbye to my teacher and without thinking of ever seeing him again.

Chapter II
Counselor

Is it my side, my side,

Unfamiliar side!

Was it not I who came upon you?

Wasn’t it a good horse that brought me:

She brought me, good fellow,

Agility, good cheerfulness

And the tavern's hop drink.

Old song

My thoughts on the road were not very pleasant. My loss, at the prices at that time, was significant. I could not help but admit in my heart that my behavior in the Simbirsk tavern was stupid, and I felt guilty before Savelich. All this tormented me. The old man sat sullenly on the bench, turned away from me, and was silent, only quacking occasionally. I definitely wanted to make peace with him and didn’t know where to start. Finally I told him: “Well, well, Savelich! that's enough, let's make peace, it's my fault; I see for myself that I am guilty. Yesterday I misbehaved, and I wronged you in vain. I promise to behave smarter and obey you in the future. Well, don't be angry; let's make peace."

- Eh, Father Pyotr Andreich! - he answered with a deep sigh. – I’m angry with myself; It's all my fault. How could I have left you alone in the tavern! What to do? I was confused by sin: I decided to wander into the sacristan’s house and see my godfather. That's it: I went to see my godfather and ended up in prison. Trouble and nothing more! How will I show myself to the gentlemen? what will they say when they find out that the child is drinking and playing?

To console poor Savelich, I gave him my word that in future I would not dispose of a single penny without his consent. He gradually calmed down, although he still occasionally grumbled to himself, shaking his head: “A hundred rubles! Isn’t it easy!”

I was approaching my destination. Around me stretched sad deserts, intersected by hills and ravines. Everything was covered with snow. The sun was setting. The carriage was traveling along a narrow road, or more precisely along a trail made by peasant sleighs. Suddenly the driver began to look to the side and, finally, taking off his hat, turned to me and said: “Master, would you order me to turn back?”

- What is this for?

– Time is unreliable: the wind rises slightly; see how it sweeps away the powder.

- What a problem!

– Do you see what there? (The coachman pointed his whip to the east.)

– I see nothing but the white steppe, yes clear skies.

- And there - there: this is a cloud.

I actually saw a white cloud at the edge of the sky, which at first I took for a distant hill. The driver explained to me that the cloud foreshadowed a snowstorm.

I heard about the blizzards there and knew that entire convoys were covered in them. Savelich, in agreement with the driver’s opinion, advised him to turn back. But the wind did not seem strong to me; I hoped to get to the next station in time and ordered to go quickly.

The coachman galloped off; but kept looking to the east. The horses ran together. Meanwhile, the wind became stronger hour by hour. The cloud turned into a white cloud, which rose heavily, grew and gradually covered the sky. It began to snow lightly and suddenly began to fall in flakes. The wind howled; there was a snowstorm. In an instant, the dark sky mixed with the snowy sea. Everything has disappeared. “Well, master,” the coachman shouted, “trouble: a snowstorm!..”

I looked out of the wagon: everything was darkness and whirlwind. The wind howled with such ferocious expressiveness that it seemed animated; the snow covered me and Savelich; the horses walked at a pace - and soon stopped. “Why aren’t you going?” – I asked the driver impatiently. “Why go? - he answered, getting off the bench, - God knows where we ended up: there is no road, and there is darkness all around. I started to scold him. Savelich stood up for him: “And I would have disobeyed,” he said angrily, “I would have returned to the inn, had some tea, rested until the morning, the storm would have subsided, and we would have moved on. And where are we rushing? You’d be welcome to the wedding!” Savelich was right. There was nothing to do. The snow was still falling. A snowdrift was rising near the wagon. The horses stood with their heads down and occasionally shuddering. The coachman walked around, having nothing better to do, adjusting the harness. Savelich grumbled; I looked in all directions, hoping to see at least a sign of a vein or a road, but I could not discern anything except the muddy whirling of a snowstorm... Suddenly I saw something black. “Hey, coachman! - I shouted, “look: what’s black there?” The coachman began to peer closely. “God knows, master,” he said, sitting down in his place, “a cart is not a cart, a tree is not a tree, but it seems that it is moving. It must be either a wolf or a man." I ordered to go towards an unfamiliar object, which immediately began to move towards us. Two minutes later we caught up with the man. “Hey, good man! - the coachman shouted to him. “Tell me, do you know where the road is?”

- The road is here; “I’m standing on a solid strip,” answered the roadie, “but what’s the point?”

“Listen, little man,” I told him, “do you know this side?” Will you undertake to take me to my lodging for the night?

“The side is familiar to me,” answered the traveler, “thank God, it’s well-trodden and traveled far and wide.” Look what the weather is like: you’ll just lose your way. It’s better to stop here and wait, maybe the storm will subside and the sky will clear: then we’ll find our way by the stars.

His composure encouraged me. I had already decided, surrendering myself to God’s will, to spend the night in the middle of the steppe, when suddenly the roadman quickly sat down on the beam and said to the coachman: “Well, thank God, he lived not far away; turn right and go."

- Why should I go to the right? – the driver asked with displeasure. -Where do you see the road? Probably: the horses are strangers, the collar is not yours, don’t stop driving. “The coachman seemed right to me.” “Really,” I said, “why do you think that they lived not far away?” “But because the wind blew away from here,” answered the roadman, “and I heard the smell of smoke; know the village is close." His intelligence and subtlety of instinct amazed me. I told the coachman to go. The horses tramped heavily through the deep snow. The wagon moved quietly, now driving onto a snowdrift, now collapsing into a ravine and rolling over to one side or the other. It was like a ship sailing on stormy sea. Savelich groaned, constantly pushing against my sides. I lowered the mat, wrapped myself in a fur coat and dozed off, lulled by the singing of the storm and the rolling of the quiet ride.

I had a dream that I could never forget and in which I still see something prophetic when I think about it strange circumstances of my life. The reader will excuse me: for he probably knows from experience how human it is to indulge in superstition, despite all possible contempt for prejudice.

I was in that state of feelings and soul when materiality, yielding to dreams, merges with them in the unclear visions of first sleep. It seemed to me that the storm was still raging and we were still wandering through the snowy desert... Suddenly I saw a gate and drove into the manor’s courtyard of our estate. My first thought was the fear that my father would be angry with me for my involuntary return to my parents’ roof and would consider it deliberate disobedience. With anxiety, I jumped out of the wagon and saw: mother met me on the porch with an appearance of deep grief. “Hush,” she tells me, “your father is dying and wants to say goodbye to you.” Struck with fear, I follow her into the bedroom. I see the room is dimly lit; there are people with sad faces standing by the bed. I quietly approach the bed; Mother lifts the curtain and says: “Andrei Petrovich, Petrusha has arrived; he returned after learning about your illness; bless him." I knelt down and fixed my eyes on the patient. Well?.. Instead of my father, I see a man with a black beard lying in bed, looking at me cheerfully. I turned to my mother in bewilderment, telling her: “What does this mean? This is not father. And why should I ask for a man’s blessing?” “It doesn’t matter, Petrusha,” my mother answered me, “this is your imprisoned father; kiss his hand and may he bless you...” I did not agree. Then the man jumped out of bed, grabbed the ax from behind his back and began swinging it in all directions. I wanted to run... and couldn’t; the room filled up dead bodies; I stumbled over bodies and slid in bloody puddles... The scary man called me affectionately, saying: “Don’t be afraid, come under my blessing...” Horror and bewilderment took possession of me... And at that moment I woke up; the horses stood; Savelich tugged at my hand, saying: “Come out, sir: we’ve arrived.”

-Where have you arrived? – I asked, rubbing my eyes.

- To the inn. The Lord helped, we ran straight into a fence. Come out, sir, quickly and warm yourself up.

I left the tent. The storm still continued, although with less force. It was so dark that you could put out your eyes. The owner met us at the gate, holding a lantern under his skirt, and led me into the room, cramped, but quite clean; a torch illuminated her. A rifle and a tall Cossack hat hung on the wall.

The owner, a Yaik Cossack by birth, seemed to be a man of about sixty, still fresh and vigorous. Savelich brought the cellar behind me and demanded a fire to prepare tea, which I never seemed to need so much. The owner went to do some work.

- Where is the counselor? – I asked Savelich. “Here, your honor,” the voice from above answered me. I looked at the Polati and saw a black beard and two sparkling eyes. “What, brother, are you cold?” - “How not to vegetate in one skinny armyak! There was a sheepskin coat, but let’s be honest? I laid the evening at the kisser’s: the frost did not seem too great.” At that moment the owner came in with a boiling samovar; I offered our counselor a cup of tea; the man got off the floor. His appearance seemed remarkable to me: he was about forty, average height, thin and broad-shouldered. His black beard showed streaks of gray; alive big eyes so they ran. His face had a rather pleasant, but roguish expression. The hair was cut into a circle; he was wearing a tattered overcoat and Tatar trousers. I brought him a cup of tea; he tasted it and winced. “Your Honor, do me such a favor - order me to bring a glass of wine; tea is not our Cossack drink.” I willingly fulfilled his wish. The owner took a damask and a glass out of the stall, walked up to him and, looking into his face: “Ehe,” he said, “you’re in our land again!” Where did God bring it?” My counselor blinked significantly and answered with a saying: “He flew into the garden, pecked hemp; Grandmother threw a pebble - yes, it missed. Well, what about yours?”

- Yes, ours! - the owner answered, continuing the allegorical conversation. “They started ringing for vespers, but the priest didn’t say: the priest is visiting, the devils are in the graveyard.”

“Be quiet, uncle,” my tramp objected, “there will be rain, there will be fungi; and if there are fungi, there will be a body. And now (here he blinked again) put the ax behind your back: the forester is walking. Your honor! For your health!" - With these words, he took the glass, crossed himself and drank in one breath. Then he bowed to me and returned to the floor.

I couldn’t understand anything from this thieves’ conversation at the time; but later I guessed that it was about the affairs of the Yaitsky army, which at that time had just been pacified after the riot of 1772. Savelich listened with an air of great displeasure. He looked with suspicion first at the owner, then at the counselor. Inn, or, in the local language, able, was located on the side, in the steppe, far from any settlement, and very much looked like a robber's haven. But there was nothing to do. It was impossible to even think about continuing the journey. Savelich's anxiety amused me very much. Meanwhile, I settled down for the night and lay down on a bench. Savelich decided to go to the stove; the owner lay down on the floor. Soon the whole hut was snoring, and I fell asleep like the dead.

Waking up quite late in the morning, I saw that the storm had subsided. The sun was shining. The snow lay in a dazzling veil on the vast steppe. The horses were harnessed. I paid the owner, who took such a reasonable payment from us that even Savelich did not argue with him and did not bargain as usual, and yesterday’s suspicions were completely erased from his mind. I called the counselor, thanked him for his help and told Savelich to give him half a ruble for vodka. Savelich frowned. “Half a ruble for vodka! - he said, - what is this for? Because you deigned to give him a ride to the inn? It's your choice, sir: we don't have any extra fifty. If you give everyone vodka, you’ll soon have to starve.” I couldn't argue with Savelich. The money, according to my promise, was at his complete disposal. I was annoyed, however, that I could not thank the person who rescued me, if not from trouble, then at least from a very unpleasant situation. “Okay,” I said coolly, “if you don’t want to give half a rouble, then take him something from my dress. He is dressed too lightly. Give him my hare sheepskin coat."

- Have mercy, Father Pyotr Andreich! - said Savelich. - Why does he need your hare sheepskin coat? He will drink it, the dog, in the first tavern.

“This, old lady, is not your sadness,” said my tramp, “whether I drink or not.” His nobility grants me a fur coat from his shoulder: it is his lordly will, and it is your serf’s business not to argue and obey.

- You are not afraid of God, robber! - Savelich answered him in an angry voice. “You see that the child doesn’t understand yet, and you’re glad to rob him, for the sake of his simplicity.” Why do you need a master's sheepskin coat? You won’t even put it on your damned shoulders.

“Please don’t be smart,” I told my uncle, “now bring the sheepskin coat here.”

- Lord, master! - my Savelich groaned. – The hare sheepskin coat is almost brand new! and it would be good for anyone, otherwise it’s a naked drunkard!

However, the hare sheepskin coat appeared. The man immediately began trying it on. In fact, the sheepskin coat that I had grown out of was a little narrow for him. However, he somehow managed to put it on, tearing it apart at the seams. Savelich almost howled when he heard the threads crackle. The tramp was extremely pleased with my gift. He walked me to the tent and said with a low bow: “Thank you, your honor! God reward you for your virtue. I will never forget your mercies." - He went in his direction, and I went further, not paying attention to Savelich’s annoyance, and soon forgot about yesterday’s blizzard, about my counselor and about the hare’s sheepskin coat.

Arriving in Orenburg, I went straight to the general. I saw a man who was tall, but already hunched over with old age. Long hair his were completely white. The old, faded uniform resembled a warrior from the time of Anna Ioannovna, and his speech was strongly reminiscent of a German accent. I gave him a letter from my father. At his name, he looked at me quickly: “My dear!” - he said. - How long ago, it seems, Andrei Petrovich was even younger than your age, and now he has such a hammer ear! Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh!” He opened the letter and began to read it in a low voice, making his comments. " Your Majesty Andrei Karlovich, I hope that your Excellency”... What kind of ceremony is this? Ugh, how inappropriate he is! Of course: discipline is the first thing, but is this how they write to the old comrade?.. “Your Excellency has not forgotten”... um... “and... when... the late Field Marshal Min... campaign... also... Karolinka”... Ehe, brooder! So he still remembers our old pranks? “Now about the matter... I’ll bring my rake to you”... um... “keep a tight rein”... What are mittens? This must be a Russian proverb... What does “handle with gloves” mean?” – he repeated, turning to me.

“This means,” I answered him with an air as innocent as possible, “to treat him kindly, not too strictly, to give him more freedom, to keep a tight rein.”

“Hm, I understand... “and don’t give him free rein” - no, apparently, Yesha’s mittens mean the wrong thing... “At the same time... his passport”... Where is he? And, here... “write off to Semyonovsky”... Okay, okay: everything will be done... “Allow yourself to be embraced without rank and... by an old comrade and friend” - ah! finally I guessed... and so on and so forth... Well, father,” he said, having read the letter and putting my passport aside, “everything will be done: you will be transferred as an officer to the *** regiment, and so as not to waste time, then tomorrow go to the Belogorsk fortress, where you will be on the team of Captain Mironov, a kind and honest man. There you will be in real service, you will learn discipline. There is nothing for you to do in Orenburg; scattering is harmful young man. And today you are welcome to dine with me.”

“It’s not getting any easier hour by hour! - I thought to myself, - what did it serve me that even in my mother’s womb I was already a guard sergeant! Where has this got me? To the *** regiment and to a remote fortress on the border of the Kyrgyz-Kaisak steppes!..” I dined with Andrei Karlovich, the three of us with his old adjutant. Strict German economy reigned at his table, and I think that the fear of sometimes seeing an extra guest at his single meal was partly the reason for my hasty removal to the garrison. The next day I said goodbye to the general and went to my destination.

Guard - special selected troops. First guards regiments(Semyonovsky, Preobrazhensky) appeared in Russia under Peter I. Unlike the rest of the army, they enjoyed advantages.

And the steward of money, and linen, and my affairs - a quote from the poem by D. I. Fonvizin “Message to my servants.” Caregiver (bookish, outdated) – a person who takes care of something, is in charge of something.

Pyotr Grinev was born in the Simbirsk village (essay about him). His parents are Prime Major Andrei Petrovich Grinev and Avdotya Vasilievna Yu. Even before Peter was born, his father enrolled him in the Semenovsky regiment as a sergeant. The boy was on leave until the end of his studies, but it was conducted extremely poorly. The father hired Monsieur Beaupre to teach the young master French, German languages and other sciences. Instead, the man learned Russian with the help of Peter and then everyone began to do their own thing: the mentor - to drink and walk, and the child - to have fun. Later, the boy's father kicked Monsieur Beaupre out of the yard because he was pestering the maid. No new teachers were hired.

When Peter turned seventeen, his father decided that it was time for his son to enter the service. However, he was sent not to the St. Petersburg Semenovsky regiment, but to Orenburg, so that he could smell gunpowder and become a real man, instead of having fun in the capital. Stremyanny Savelich (his characterization), who was granted the uncle Peter when he was still a child, went with his ward. On the way we made a stop in Simbirsk to buy the necessary things. While the mentor was solving business issues and meeting with old friends, Peter met Ivan Zurin, the captain of the hussar regiment. The man began to teach the young man to be a military man: to drink and play billiards. After this, Peter returned to Savelich drunk, cursed the old man and greatly offended him. The next morning, the mentor began to lecture him and tried to persuade him not to give back the lost hundred rubles. However, Peter insisted on repaying the debt. Soon the two of them moved on.

Chapter 2: COUNSELOR

On the way to Orenburg, Pyotr Grinev was tormented by his conscience: he realized that he had behaved stupidly and rudely. The young man apologized to Savelich and promised that this would not happen again. The man replied that it was his own fault: he should not have left his ward alone. After Peter’s words, Savelich calmed down a little. Later, a snowstorm overtook the travelers and they lost their way. After some time we met a man who told us which way the village was. They drove off, and Grinev dozed off. He dreamed that he returned home, his mother said that his father was dying and wanted to say goodbye. However, when Peter came in to him, he saw that it was not his dad. Instead, there was a man with a black beard who looked at him cheerfully. Grinev was indignant, why on earth would he ask for a blessing from a stranger, but his mother ordered him to do so, saying that this was his imprisoned father. Peter did not agree, so the man jumped out of bed and waved his ax, demanding to accept the blessing. The room was filled with dead bodies. At that moment the young man woke up. Later, he connected many events of his life with this dream. After resting, Grinev decided to thank the guide and gave him his hare sheepskin coat against Savelich’s will.

After some time, the travelers arrived in Orenburg. Grinev immediately went to General Andrei Karlovich, who turned out to be tall, but already hunched over with old age. He had long white hair and a German accent. Peter gave him a letter, then they had lunch together, and the next day Grinev, by order, went to his place of service - to the Belogorsk fortress. The young man was still not happy that his father had sent him to such a wilderness.

Chapter 3: FORTRESS

Pyotr Grinev and Savelich arrived at the Belogorsk fortress, which did not inspire a warlike appearance. It was a frail village where disabled people and old people served. Peter met the inhabitants of the fortress: captain Ivan Kuzmich Mironov, his wife Vasilisa Egorovna, their daughter Masha and Alexei Ivanovich Shvabrin (his image is described), transferred to this wilderness for murder in a duel with a lieutenant. The guilty soldier first came to Grinev - he wanted to see something new human face. At the same time, Shvabrin told Peter about the local inhabitants.

Grinev was invited to dinner with the Mironovs. They asked the young man about his family, talked about how they themselves came to the Belogorsk fortress, and Vasilisa Egorovna was afraid of the Bashkirs and Kyrgyzs. Masha (her detailed description) and until then she shuddered from gun shots, and when her father decided to fire a cannon on her mother’s name day, she almost died of fear. The girl was of marriageable age, but her dowry included only a comb, a broom, an altyn of money and bath accessories. Vasilisa Egorovna ( female images described) was worried that her daughter would remain an old maid, because no one would want to marry a poor woman. Grinev was prejudiced towards Masha, because before that Shvabrin had described her as a fool.

Chapter 4: DUEHL

Soon Pyotr Grinev got used to the inhabitants of the Belogorsk fortress, and he even liked life there. Ivan Kuzmich, who became an officer from the children of soldiers, was simple and uneducated, but honest and kind. His wife ruled the fortress as well as her own own home. Marya Ivanovna turned out to be not a fool at all, but a prudent and sensitive girl. The crooked garrison lieutenant Ivan Ignatyich did not at all enter into a criminal relationship with Vasilisa Yegorovna, as Shvabrin had said before. Because of such nasty things, communication with Alexei Ivanovich became less and less pleasant for Peter. The service did not burden Grinev. There were no inspections, no exercises, no guards in the fortress.

Over time, Peter liked Masha. He composed a love poem for her and let Shvabrina appreciate it. He strongly criticized the essay and the girl herself. He even slandered Masha, hinting that she visited him at night. Grinev was indignant, accused Alexei of lying, and the latter challenged him to a duel. At first the competition did not take place, because Ivan Ignatich reported the intentions of the young people to Vasilisa Yegorovna. Masha admitted to Grinev that Alexey was wooing her, but she refused. Later, Peter and Alexei fought a duel again. Because of Savelich’s sudden appearance, Grinev looked back, and Shvabrin stabbed him in the chest with a sword.

Chapter 5: LOVE

On the fifth day after the accident, Grinev woke up. Savelich and Masha were nearby all the time. Peter immediately confessed his feelings to the girl. At first she did not answer him, citing the fact that he was ill, but later gave her consent. Grinev immediately sent his parents a request for a blessing, but his father responded with a rude and decisive refusal. In his opinion, Peter had gone crazy. Grinev Sr. was also indignant about his son’s duel. He wrote that, having learned about this, his mother fell ill. The father said that he would ask Ivan Kuzmich to immediately transfer the young man to another place.

The letter horrified Peter. Masha refused to marry him without the blessing of his parents, saying that then the young man would not be happy. Grinev was also angry with Savelich for interfering with the duel and reporting it to his father. The man was offended and said that he ran to Peter to shield Shvabrin from his sword, but old age got in the way, and he did not have time, and did not inform his father. Savelich showed his ward a letter from Grinev Sr., where he cursed because the servant did not report the duel. After this, Peter realized that he was mistaken and began to suspect Shvabrin of the denunciation. It was beneficial for him that Grinev be transferred from the Belogorsk fortress.

Chapter 6: PUGACHEVSHCHINA

At the end of 1773, Captain Mironov received a message about the Don Cossack Emelyan Pugachev (here is his name), who was posing as the late Emperor Peter III. The criminal gathered a gang and destroyed several fortresses. There was a possibility of an attack on Belogorskaya, so its inhabitants immediately began to prepare: to clean the cannon. After some time, they seized a Bashkir with outrageous sheets that foreshadowed an imminent attack. Torture did not work because his tongue was torn out.

When the robbers took the Nizhneozernaya fortress, capturing all the soldiers and hanging the officers, it became clear that the enemies would soon arrive at Mironov. For the sake of safety, my parents decided to send Masha to Orenburg. Vasilisa Egorovna refused to leave her husband. Peter said goodbye to his beloved, saying that his last prayer would be for her.

Chapter 7: ATTACK

In the morning the Belogorsk fortress was surrounded. Several traitors sided with Pugachev, and Marya Mironova did not have time to leave for Orenburg. The father said goodbye to his daughter, blessing her for marriage with the person who would be worthy. After the capture of the fortress, Pugachev hanged the commandant and, under the guise of Peter III, began to demand an oath. Those who refused suffered the same fate.

Peter saw Shvabrin among the traitors. Alexey said something to Pugachev, and he decided to hang Grinev without an offer to take the oath. When a noose was put around the young man's neck, Savelich convinced the robber to change his mind - a ransom could be obtained from the master's child. The mentor offered to hang himself instead of Peter. Pugachev spared both. Vasilisa Egorovna, seeing her husband in the noose, started screaming, and she was also killed, hit on the head with a saber.

Chapter 8: UNINVITED GUEST

Pugachev and his comrades celebrated the capture of another fortress. Marya Ivanovna survived. Popadya Akulina Pamfilovna hid her at home and passed her off as her niece. The impostor believed. Having learned this, Peter calmed down a little. Savelich told him that Pugachev was the drunkard who met him on the way to his place of service. Grinev was saved by the fact that he then gave the robber his sheepskin coat. Peter was lost in thought: duty required him to go to a new place of service, where he could be useful to the Fatherland, but love tied him to the Belogorsk fortress.

Later, Pugachev called Peter to his place and once again offered to enter his service. Grinev refused, saying that he had sworn allegiance to Catherine II and could not take his words back. The impostor liked the honesty and courage of the young man, and he let him go on all four sides.

Chapter 9: SEPARATION

In the morning, Pyotr Grinev woke up to the beat of drums and went out to the square. Cossacks gathered near the gallows. Pugachev released Peter to Orenburg and told him to warn about the imminent attack on the city. Alexey Shvabrin was appointed the new head of the fortress. Grinev was horrified to hear this, because Marya Ivanovna was now in danger. Savelich decided to make a claim to Pugachev and demand compensation for damage. The impostor was extremely indignant, but did not punish him.

Before leaving, Peter went to say goodbye to Marya Ivanovna. From the stress she suffered, she developed a fever, and the girl lay delirious, not recognizing the young man. Grinev was worried about her and decided that the only way he could help was to quickly reach Orenburg and help liberate the fortress. When Peter and Savelich were walking along the road to the city, a Cossack caught up with them. He was on a horse and holding the second one in the reins. The man said that Pugachev gave Grinev a horse, a fur coat from his shoulder and a yard of money, but he lost the latter on the way. The young man accepted the gifts, and advised the man to find the lost funds and take them for vodka.

Chapter 10: SIEGE OF THE CITY

Pyotr Grinev arrived in Orenburg and reported to the general the military situation. A council was immediately convened, but everyone except the young man was in favor of not attacking, but waiting for an attack. The general agreed with Grinev, but stated that he could not risk the people entrusted to him. Then Peter remained waiting in the city, occasionally making forays beyond the walls against Pugachev’s people. The robbers were much better armed than the warriors legitimate authority.

During one of his forays, Grinev met sergeant Maksimych from the Belogorsk fortress. He gave the young man a letter from Marya Mironova, who reported that Alexei Shvabrin was forcing her to marry him, otherwise he would reveal to Pugachev the secret that she was the captain’s daughter and not the niece of Akulina Pamfilovna. Grinev was horrified by Marya’s words and immediately went to the general with a repeated request to march on the Belogorsk fortress, but was again refused.

Chapter 11: REBEL SLOBODA

Finding no help from the legitimate authorities, Pyotr Grinev left Orenburg to personally teach Alexey Shvabrin a lesson. Savelich refused to leave his ward and went with him. On the way, the young man and the old man were caught by Pugachev’s people, and they took Peter to their “father.” The leader of the robbers lived in a Russian hut, which was called a palace. The only difference from ordinary houses was that it was covered with gold paper. Pugachev always kept two advisers with him, whom he called enarals. One of them is the fugitive corporal Beloborodov, and the second is the exiled criminal Sokolov, nicknamed Khlopushka.

Pugachev became angry with Shvabrin when he learned that he was hurting the orphan. The man decided to help Peter and was even happy to learn that Marya was his fiancée. The next day they went together to the Belogorsk fortress. Faithful Savelich again refused to leave the master's child.

Chapter 12: ORPHAN

Arriving at the Belogorsk fortress, the travelers met Shvabrin. He called Marya his wife, which seriously angered Grinev, but the girl denied this. Pugachev was angry with Alexei, but pardoned him, threatening to remember this offense if he committed another one. Shvabrin looked pathetic, kneeling. Nevertheless, he had the courage to reveal Marya’s secret. Pugachev’s face darkened, but he realized that he had been deceived in order to save an innocent child, so he forgave and released the lovers.

Pugachev left. Marya Ivanovna said goodbye to the graves of her parents, packed her things and went to Orenburg along with Peter, Palasha and Savelich. Shvabrin's face expressed gloomy anger.

Chapter 13: ARREST

The travelers stopped in a city not far from Orenburg. There Grinev met an old acquaintance Zurin, to whom he once lost a hundred rubles. The man advised Peter not to marry at all, because love is a whim. Grinev did not agree with Zurin, but understood that he had to serve the empress, so he sent Marya to her parents as a bride, accompanied by Savelich, and he himself decided to remain in the army.

After saying goodbye to the girl, Peter had fun with Zurin, and then they set out on a hike. At the sight of the troops of the legitimate government, the rebellious villages came into obedience. Soon, under the Tatishcheva fortress, Prince Golitsyn defeated Pugachev and liberated Orenburg, but the impostor gathered a new gang, took Kazan and marched on Moscow. Still, after some time, Pugachev was caught. War is over. Peter received leave and was going to go home to his family and Marya. However, on the day of departure, Zurin received a letter with an order to detain Grinev and send him on guard to Kazan for the commission of inquiry into the Pugachev case. I had to obey.

Chapter 14: COURT

Pyotr Grinev was sure that he would not face serious punishment, and decided to tell everything as it is. However, the young man did not mention Marya Ivanovna’s name, so as not to involve her in this vile matter. The commission did not believe the young man and considered his father to be an unworthy son. During the investigation, it became known that the informer was Shvabrin.

Andrei Petrovich Grinev was horrified by the thought that his son was a traitor. The boy's mother was upset. Peter, only out of respect for his father, was spared execution and sentenced to exile in Siberia. Marya Ivanovna, whom the young man’s parents had fallen in love with, went to St. Petersburg. There, while walking, she met a noble lady, who, having learned that the girl was going to ask for favor from the Empress, listened to the story and said that she could help. Later it turned out that it was Catherine II herself. She pardoned Pyotr Grinev. Soon the young man and Marya Mironova got married, they had children, and Pugachev nodded to the young man before hanging in a noose.

MISSING CHAPTER

This chapter was not included in the final edition. Here Grinev is called Bulanin, and Zurin is called Grinev.

Peter pursued the Pugachevites, being in Zurin’s detachment. The troops found themselves near the banks of the Volga and not far from the Grinev estate. Peter decided to meet with his parents and Marya Ivanovna, so he went to them alone.

It turned out that the village was in a riot, and the young man’s family was in captivity. When Grinev entered the barn, the peasants locked him in with them. Savelich went to report this to Zurin. Meanwhile, Shvabrin arrived in the village and ordered the barn to be set on fire. Peter's father wounded Alexei, and the family was able to get out of the burning barn. At that moment, Zurin arrived and saved them from Shvabrin, the Pugachevites and the rebellious peasants. Alexei was sent to Kazan for trial, the peasants were pardoned, and Grinev Jr. went to suppress the remnants of the rebellion.

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