“Listen, Valerian,” said the Hussar Lt. Col. Gremin to his friend Major Strelinsky, “do you still remember the black-eyed lady who drove all the young people crazy at the French envoy’s ball three years ago?”
This conversation took place in 182 ..., on the day of winter Nikola, not far from Kiev, where officers of the ** Hussars regiment celebrated the birthday of their favorite squadron commander, quick-tempered, but kind and generous Nikolai Petrovich Gremin.
Of course, Strelinsky remembers an unknown beauty, she even dreamed of him for two whole nights, but his passion, as decently to a noble hussar, passed in a week; but Gremin seems to be in love?
Yes, three years ago Alina took possession of his heart. She answered him in return, but the lovers had to eat only “sparks of glances and a smoke of hope”, because, unfortunately, due to the prudence of their relatives, Alina was the wife of seventy-year-old Count Zvezdich. Doctors advised the old man to go abroad, to the waters, his wife should accompany him. Having exchanged rings and vows of unchanging fidelity, the young people broke up. From the first station, she sent Gremin a letter, then another one - since then there has been no news from her or from her. And only yesterday, with St. Petersburg mail, the lieutenant colonel found out that Countess Zvezdich had returned to the capital, that she had become even more beautiful and sweet, that only the great light spoke of her. Passion cooled down from time to time flared up again in the heart, and next to it was jealousy and distrust: did she remain faithful to her former love? Gremin asks a friend to test Alina’s feelings: “sweet inexperienced love, but tested love is priceless!” If Alina falls in love with Strelinsky, then well, such is fate! It is not easy for Strelinsky to agree to test not only love, but also friendship, and only Gremin’s assurances that nothing threatens their friendship, they force him to say “yes”.
But the changeability of human nature is such that before the ringing of the bell behind the departed Strelinsky, the doubt and jealousy penetrated the soul of Gremin. And the next morning he sends the orderly to the brigade commander asking for his dismissal on vacation, intending to overtake Strelinsky and before he saw the beautiful Alina.
On Christmas Eve, when there is fuss and cheerful pre-holiday crush on the streets of St. Petersburg, when Sennaya Square is filled with all kinds of food, and Nevsky seems to be burning from carriages and sleighs, in which guards officers jump to buy new-fashioned axelbands, epaulettes, hats and uniforms, and the ladies put on hasty visits to fashion shops, to seamstresses and gold seamstresses - on the eve of the holiday, a trio entered one of our hussars sitting in Moscow through a Moscow outpost. Who is Gremin or Strelinsky?
The brilliant masquerade ball given by Prince O *** three days after Christmas was in full swing when a mask in a magnificent Spanish costume approached Countess Zvezdich and invited her to a dance. In the sounds of the voice and brilliance of the wit of Don Alonzo e Fuentes e Kolibrados, as a stranger introduced himself, the countess seemed familiar. And when he took off the glove from his left hand, the involuntary “ah!” escaped from her - the sparkling ring was the same one that she gave Gremin three years ago! Having promised to come to her to explain the mystery the next day, the stranger disappeared like a dream.
In a strange excitement, the countess of the visit awaits - almost forgotten love as if returned to her heart. Here they report on the arrival of the guard officer! Now she will see him again! Alina goes into the living room ... but before her is not Prince Gremin at all, but an unfamiliar blond hussar!
The mystery of the ring was revealed simply: two years ago, when he saw a friend that he liked, Strelinsky ordered a similar one. But how to explain another secret: from the first minutes of the meeting Strelinsky and Alina were frank and trusting, like old friends, and maybe more than friends. And from that day on in the theater, at balls, at musical evenings and dinner parties, at skating and dance breakfasts - everywhere Alina seemed to meet Valerian by chance. Alina is in love, no doubt! What about our hero? Does he only fulfill Gremin’s request? Not at all! And evidence of this is the changes that have occurred to him. According to friends, he is an anemone, now seriously thinks about the future, about marriage, and the family happiness of love with a sweet girlfriend is combined in his thoughts with the duty of a citizen: he will resign, will leave for the village and take care of the welfare of the peasants and improvement households will happily and happily lead their lives. But will Alina agree to this? Going to the village is a sacrifice for a young, beautiful and rich woman! Three days later she will give a final answer.
And while the sad and worried Valerian is waiting for a decision of his fate, Nikolai Gremin returns to Petersburg. The affairs of the service, which detained him in the regiment, made him forget about his previous plans and hopes, and, ardent only for a day, he did not remember the test entrusted to a friend, and perhaps would not have come to Petersburg at all if the death of his grandfather had not called him for inheritance. But the news of the close marriage of Strelinsky and Countess Zvezdich, like a waterfall pouring over him, aroused jealousy that had fallen asleep in his soul, and, seething with vengeance, he rushed into the house of his former friend to pour out all the fury of his indignation. How could Strelinsky meet unfair reproaches of a friend? He is trying to recall that he convinced Gremin to abandon the crazy plan, that he predicted everything that could happen — in vain! Resentment does not tolerate reasoning. A shot is the only possible response to an insult, a bullet is the best reward for deceit!
Valerian’s sister Olga Strelinskaya, a young girl who recently graduated after studying at the Smolny Monastery, tormented by forebodings about her brother’s fate, decides to overhear the conversation of men in their house. Seconds discuss the quality of the “finest-grained” gunpowder, the design of pistols, the problem of inviting a doctor. Valerian's old servant helps cast the bullets. You can be sure that nothing will be missed.
Olga is in despair. How to save a brother? Precious minutes run on the clock! She likes Gremin so much, and now he will become Valerian's killer! Olga turns to God, and this helps her decide ...
An ordinary tavern on the second verst on the road to Pargolovo, a place where participants in duels constantly gather in winter. Suddenly, Gremin is informed that a lady under a veil wants to see him. “Olga! Are you here?!" “Prince, know that you will not be able to reach my brother, other than piercing my heart!”
Gremin, who has long regretted his futility, is now ready for a thousand apologies. His ardent and impressionable heart is already completely occupied by another: “Olga! Be my wife! ”
Reconciliation has taken place. Here Strelinsky receives a letter from Alina. How stupid the doubts were! Alina wholeheartedly belongs to him. His gloomy mood was dispelled. He blesses Olga and Gremin: “I entrust you, Nikolai, the best pearl of my being!”
The gentlemen of the seconds are invited to drink down past recklessness and in the future change their failed roles to the roles of best men at two weddings.
“Even the stupidity of a person is sometimes extremely successful!” - the skeptical doctor present at the same time judged.
