It was under Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich that these vagabonds and counterfeiters were exiled to the steppe lands, and as governor in the disgraced Tambov region, Gavril Derzhavin, at that time semi-disputed, got in touch with Tambov, marked himself on many imperial maps and got a bridge. Half a century has passed, and not brightened the three main streets, straightened out by the singer Felitsa, and the watchmen, as with him, stick out in the booths, and the taverns, with numbers, are prospering: one is Moscow, and the other is Berlin. One misfortune is boredom: there are abundant brides, and lack of brides. And if someone is enlightened, like the painter Avdotya Nikolavna - for Mr. Bobkovsky, the treasurer - is that really luck? The bald man is noble, old and gloomy, and the same hell: a gambler - and hapless. He plays - and in a big way - in his own house, rumors are rumored to be decks, from all counties pontors flock to Bobkovsky, others look at the hostess: "a delicious piece!" The treasurer doesn’t prevent “peering” from flirting, he watches his wife both, jealous, and he himself teaches her, “how to take a sigh or a languid look”; the stronger, they say, the "amorous ponter" gets in, the sooner he will lose. Stingy meanwhile is unbearable! From a young age, he is a member of the treasury, and his wife "is quite simple" contains: no bonnet to you from Moscow, no hats from St. Petersburg. But the treasurer, darling, and in the Tambov samostroke a miracle is as good, and it seems she does not grumble at fate: she steps smoothly, keeps herself proud and looks calmly. Even the emergency news, the whole "noble circle" aroused - "regiment de Uhlan, will winter in Tambov" - does not violate the peace of heart of the "beautiful woman of eighteen". Even the entry into the glorious town of the long-awaited ulan will not lift the sloth from the hot feather-beds.

Regimental music is rattling throughout Tambov, black horses are laughing, provincial virgins are stuck to dusty windows, and at Avdotya Nikolaev - "the hour is the best morning sleep." Cousin Madame Bobkovskaya, also, we note, married, - from the passion of the heavens to the beautiful lancer burns, burns; a little light came in, magpie bursts: and his horse has that picture! .. It’s a pity that it’s only cornet ... The treasurer of the sisterly secret quietly sympathizes, without raising her eyes from the eternal canvas ...

However, Dunechka wasn’t Diana either; she was fastening, fastening, not resisting. The husband, as they cajoled, was in the presence, and the wife with the needlework went to the window, and just to the very thing that went to the Moskovsky tavern. Looks - and - oh, Lord! - “window to window” with her bedchamber - a lancer, a man and without ... No, no, a lancer, that is headquarters captain Garin, is quite dressed. And he will even come: a Persian archaluk, a yermolka of the color of ripe cherry "with a border and a golden brush", and a special forelock - patterned, beaded. Though the painter pose. But alas! The Tambov women, and even more so the pretty ones, have their own, Tambov, concepts of decency. A man in numbers - and without a uniform ?! What a shame and disgrace! Window - knock! - slams, the curtain drops.

However, the Lancer is satisfied: there is a beginning! He is a man single, free, seen the light, not red tape, but not a miss, he understands women’s souls as well as horses. And it turns out to be right: two days later the pink and white treasurer appears again in the window, this time “in a caring outfit”. Garin, in order to teach a lesson to the provincial girl, gets up - and goes from the yard, and does not return until the morning. And so - three days in a row. And imagine - the filly did not buckle, albeit with a burrow - on the contrary, it became quiet, and soon became bolder. Our heroes are spinning a romance closely across the street, while Tambov rests, and the treasurer in the treasury with the treasury sum lives as with his own treasury!

Meanwhile, time is flowing, leaking, Dune's amorous gatherings at the window seem to be enough, but Garin really can’t wait - he’s not a fabulous character, to sigh silently, “it's time for a denouement”. Finally lucky. At birthday celebrations at the provincial leader of the lancer and the treasurer, unsuspecting owners sit next to them at the dining table. And then the head captain is not lost, since regimental trumpeters are rushing up on the balcony, and the neighbors on the table are rattling frantically with knife-fork-plates. Dunya is silently delighted, and yet, in exchange for a passionate confession, he promises only tender friendship (such is the custom of the village). With a tender friendship, our Lancer is fed up, and what real man pays attention to female babble? Especially if he sees that the beauty’s heart is pounding, trembling, captivated by his mighty eyes, and mature ardor, thirty years old, and soft curls.

Slightly passing the night, in the morning, barely waiting for the old jealous husband to leave for the presence, the head captain declares himself to Bobkovsky. The servants are breathing. Avdotya Nikolavna is still in her bedroom. And what does a wife do when her husband is not at home? Without dressing and not combing her hair, in a "shelf", restless sleep (ulans ... sabers ... spurs) crumpled, the dear is taken for needlework and indulges in dreams. Garin interrupts this pleasant occupation, opens the door and, from a place in the quarry - in Ulansky - explains the situation: either Dunya surrenders to him here and now, or he, too, here and now, "will die from a gun," that is, he will shoot himself in front of his eyes cruel. Confused at first (Garin completely believed: “a moment of triumph for love will come for him”), Avdotya Nikolavna suddenly breaks out in shame and pushes the impatient: go, they say, out, or else I’ll click the servants! Realizing that this is not pretense, but perseverance, and you can’t take a Tambov stronghold with a swift attack, the lancer is about the top of all humiliation! - kneels down and no longer demands, does not threaten - "pray mournfully." And who knows, maybe Dunya would take pity on the poor fellow, but the door is swinging wide open again: treasurer! Glancing at each other’s eyes, the rivals disperse without uttering a word. Having returned to his number, the head captain urgently equips bullets and a gun. No matter how! Instead of a decent challenge to a duel, the treasurer sends the offender an indecent invitation to the “Whistle”.

Garin in thought: is there any trick here? But evening comes, and, looking out the window, he sees that the neighbor’s guests are indeed: “the house is full, what kind of lighting!” The mistress herself meets the lancer - cold as a stranger, not a word about the morning scene. Discouraged, Garin goes further into the office, where he is waiting for another surprise: the treasurer is the very courtesy, treats the offender with jam, personally brings champagne. The game, meanwhile, is gaining momentum, from the prudent it becomes gambling. The losers are pale, tearing cards, shouting, the lucky ones clinking their glasses clinking loudly, and the treasurer-cash machine is darker than the clouds: for the first time in his life, luck slips out of his hands, and, infuriated, he drops everything clean: his own house and “everything in it or at him ”(furniture, carriage, horses, clamps and even Dunechkin earrings). Time, however, later, the candles burn out, soon it will begin to grow light, the ponters are exhausted - can they go home? - Yes, and a losing ATM in a trance. It's time, it's time to round! And suddenly, the treasurer, as if waking up, asks the players not to disperse and let him have one more, the last “thaw”, in order to win back the estate - “or lose his wife too”. Pontera in horror - what a villainy! - Garin alone accepts the villainous condition. Avdotya Nikolavna, hiding in a chair, is neither alive nor dead, but not gathered to the experiences of the unfortunate beauty, because there is a serious battle going on. Ulan plays frantically, and fate, laughing at last, finally turns his back on old Bobkovsky - "the hour has come to die." In silence, without uttering a single word, a “lost and treasury” comes up to the gaming table “slowly and smoothly” - no tears, no tantrums, no rebukes! Silently looks at her husband and silently throws his wedding ring in his face. And - in a swoon. Ulan, do not be a fool, do not hesitate, grab a win in an armful and go home, the benefit is not far, and he does not pull the burden, if his own.

And then what, ask? But nothing. They talked about it for a week, the virgins of the provincial lancers condemned, the treasurer tried to find defenders and, it seems, found several, but neither a duel nor a good quarrel ensued. Tambov, gracious sovereigns, this is Tambov. Everything is calm in Tambov.