The police overseer Ochumelov walks on the market square in a new jacket and with a package in his hand. Behind him, walks a red haired officer with a sieve, filled up to the brim with confiscated gooseberries. It is quiet all around… not a soul in the square… the open doors of shops and taverns appear downcast in the holy light, like hungry mouths; there are not even any beggars around them.
   — You bite like this, cursed thing? — hears Ochumelov suddenly. — Guy, do not let her go! Now, it is not allowed to bite! Hold her! Ah… ah!
   A dog’s yelp is herd. Ochumelov peers to the side and sees : from the wood lot of the merchant Pichugina, hopping on three legs and glancing around, runs a dog. Behind her, chases a person in a printed starched shirt and unbuttoned vest. He runs after the dog and, sprawling out with his body, falls to the ground and grabs the dog by its rear paws. A second canine yelp and shout is heard: “Don’t let go!” Sleepy faces pop out from the shops, and quickly around the wood lot, as if sprung from the earth, a crowd gathers.
   — Nothing is out of order, your honor! ….— says the officer.
   Ochumelov does a half-turn to the left and walks towards the crowd. Around the gates of the lot, he sees, the aforementioned person stands with the unbuttoned vest and, raising his right hand up in the air, exhibits to the crowd a finger covered in blood. On his half-drunk face it seems written: “Soon enough I will take it from you, rascal!” and even the finger itself has the look of a sign of triumph. Ochumelov recognizes on this man the gold creations of master Khrukin. In the center of the crowd, with fore legs spread wide and its entire body shaking, sits upon the ground the instigator of the episode himself— a white puppy dog with a pointed snout and a yellow spot on the back. In his tearful eyes is an expression of sorrow and terror.
   — What is happening here? — asks Ochumelov, forcing his way into the crowd. — Why this here? Why is your finger like that? Who was shouting?
   — I am going, your honor, I am not touching anybody… — starts Khrukin, coughing into his fist. — I was here for firewood with Mitri Mitrich, — and suddenly this beast came from out of nowhere for the finger… you will excuse me, I am a working person…my work is humble. Let’s have them pay me, because— could be, I will not move this finger for a week. This, your honor, is not lawful, to tolerate from a creature… if each will bite, better also for them not to live on this earth…
   — Hm! … Ok…— says Ochumelov sternly, coughing and twitching with his brows. — Okay, which dog? I am not leaving things this way. I will show you, how to let a dog loose! Time to pay attention to the similar men, who do not wish to obey decrees. What a fine they will levy upon him, the swine, this way he will learn from me, what the meaning of a dog and other wandering livestock is! I will show him a rigorous punishment!… Eldrin, — the overseer turns to the officer, — find out whose dog this is, and make up a report! But the dog must be eliminated. Make haste! She is probably rabid… whose dog is it, I ask?
   — This, it seems, belongs to general Zhigalov! — shouts someone from the crowd.
   — General Zhigalov? Hm! … Do take my coat from me, Eldrin… How terrible it is in this heat! One must think… it is about to rain. Just one thing I do not understand: how could she have bit you? — Ochumelov turns to Khrukin. — Will any part of her reach the finger? She is small, but you there cut a hearty figure! You, must be, picked at your finger with a nail, and then the idea also came into your head, to get something. You see.. a known type! I know you, devil!
   — He stuck her with a cigarette for laughs, your honor, and she — is not an idiot and bites… an idiotic person, your honor!          
   — You lie deceitfully! You did not see, as it follows, why you lie? Their honor is a clever man and understands, if someone lies, but someone has a conscience, before God… but if I am lying, then let them judge peacefully. In his law it says so… now everyone is equal…my own brother is in the police… if you want to know…
   — Do not argue!
   —No, this is not the general’s… — mentions the officer thoughtfully. — The general does not have such a dog. All of his are more like pointers…
   — You are certain you know this?
   — Certain, you honor…
   — And I also know it myself. The general has expensive dogs.. pure breds, but this— hell knows what! Neither fur, nor looks… only vileness alone… and to hold such a dog!?.. Where is your sense? Encounter such a dog in Petersburg or Moscow, then you know what would happen? They would not look at the law there, except momentarily— no more breath! You, Khrukin, suffered and this matter should not be left as it is…we must teach a lesson! It is time…
   — But could be, it is the general’s also…
—the officer thinks out loud. — it is not written on her snout…. I saw one like that in his yard the other day.
   — Of course, it is the general’s! — speaks a voice from the crowd.
   — Hmm! Put on my overcoat, brother Eldrin… some wind has started blowing… its chilly… you bring it to the general and ask there. You will say, that I found it and sent… and tell him, that we did not want it to be let loose on the street… it may be expensive, and if every swine will poke her in the nose with a cigarette, it will be damaged before too long. A dog— is a tender creature… and you, idiot, release your hand! There is nothing for your stupid finger to display! You are at fault yourself!
   — The general’s cook is coming, we will ask him… hey, Prokhor! Come, dear, over here! Look at the dog… yours?
   — Nonsense! Such a one we never had!
   — And we are questioning here a long time for nothing, — says Ochumelov. — It is a stray! There is nothing speak for long about… if he said that it is stray, that means it is stray… eliminate it, and that is all.
   — It is not ours, — continues Prokhov. — it is the general’s brother, who recently arrived. Ours is not a fan of this type. Is is the brother’s taste…
   — Did his brother not arrive? Vladimir Ivanich? — asks Ochumelov, and all his face filled with a smile of tenderness. — Well, my goodness! And I did not know! They came for a visit?     
   —To visit…
   —Well now, he missed his brother… but I did not even know it! So this is their doggie? Very glad… take her… the little doggie is alright… so clever… grabbed this one by the finger! Ha ha ha… well, why are you shaking? Rrr..rr.. it is getting mad… rascal… such a puppy…
   Prokhor calls the dog and walks with her out from the wood lot… the crowd laughs at Khrukin.
   — I will still get you! — Ochumelov threatens him and, wrapping himself in his overcoat, continues his path across the market square.