Chapter 1.

The first chapter describes the bad weather that occurred in the second half of August on the Black Sea coast. The howling wind and the incessant rain, which poisoned the lives of people resting in their dachas. Storms - which claimed the lives of several fishermen and made others get lost in the sea. The sun came out and the sea calmed down, which made Vera Nikolaevna very happy, who could not leave for the city, since the repairs in her house were not yet completed.

Chapter 2.

September 17, the birthday of Vera Nikolaevna, and her husband was going to invite some of the closest people to a festive dinner. Having presented Vera Nikolaevna with pear-shaped pearl earrings, and this gift raised her spirits even more, she helped her husband keep the house in order and - tested him affection that has replaced passionate love. Her sister, Anna Nikolaevna, arrived. They were very dissimilar. Vera is a tall, slender blonde, and Anna is agile vertically challenged, who inherited the Mongolian blood of her father, frivolous, feminine and attractive. Vera had no children, and she adored her sister's children, a boy and a girl, whom she gave birth to from a very rich but unloved husband.

Chapter 3.

The sisters had not seen each other for a long time and decided to sit a little on the cliff, where the view of the sea was very beautiful. Anna is delighted, but Vera says that she is already used to the sea, and she is even tired of it, since she has been seeing it every day for a very long time. Anna gives an example when she and her group climbed to a very high area, from where the most beautiful view of the sea opened, and when she joyfully shared her impressions with the guide, he answered in the same tone as Vera that he was already tired of this beauty. Anna gave her sister a lady's cornet, which was remade from a prayer book. She bought it in an antique shop and left only a beautiful binding. - After that, they went into the house, listing who would come in the evening - the husband of the princess, Prince Shein, his sister, Professor Speshnikov, their grandfather and several other people. They also discussed the table, and Anna wanted to see the gurnard, which was brought to her in a large tub, huge fish with bright colors.

Chapter 4.

Soon guests began to arrive, Prince Vasily Lvovich, with his sister, Lyudmila Lvovna, Vasyuchok was drinking, Vera's friend, pianist Jenny Reiter, her brother, Nikolai Nikolaevich, Anna's husband, Professor Speshnikov, Vice-Governor von Zeck, General Anosov and two officers - Ponomarev and Bakhtinsky. The sisters were very fond of General Anosov, he was like a grandfather to them, they met him near the carriage and escorted him home. He was a friend of the family and, since he had no children of his own, became very attached to his sisters. He always spent holidays on their estate. - Anosov went through several wars - and everyone respected him, calling him the bravest. He received many wounds and earned illnesses while crossing the Balkans, attacking Plevna, crossing the Danube, but does not want to retire and was appointed commandant of the fortress. - Everyone knew and respected him in the city, where he met the Tuganovskys and became close with them. He especially became attached to the children, since he did not have his own, he played with them and talked about his past.

Chapter 5.

Dinner went well, Vasily Lvovich entertained everyone, telling stories of his own composition that concerned those present. He had a way of telling stories - he took as a basis any real situation and exaggerated to the point of impossibility, so that it was impossible not to laugh. He touched with his stories Nikolai Nikolaevich, as well as Anna Nikolaevna's husband, Gustav Ivanovich Friesse. The U-sisters always played poker when a small group of friends gathered, the same thing happened now. The maid called Vera Nikolaevna and handed over the gift that the messenger had brought. It was a garnet bracelet and a note from her secret admirer, who had been signing for seven years now - with the initials - G.S.Zh. . He changed the bracelet and left only the stones. It used to be silver, but now it's gold. He writes to her that no one has touched this bracelet yet, only the stones have remained the same.

Chapter 6

The evening continues, Colonel Ponomarev is asked to play poker, where he is successful - some play whist, and Vasily Lvovich shows a homemade humorous album, where a comic chronicle of events is kept. The guests gradually move towards him, as everyone in his circle laughs contagiously. Then he shows the last drawing, which is called "Princess Vera and the telegrapher in love", which tells the story of how Princess Vera received letters from a secret admirer, but gives him a chance, although he even enters her house in the form of a chimney sweep and dishwasher. But all in vain, and after spending some time in a lunatic asylum, he goes to a monastery and, before his death, bequeaths to Vera a bottle of his tears and two telegraph buttons.

Chapter 7.

General Anosov sat on the terrace and told different stories just like in childhood - and the sisters looked after him, added wine, cut cheese. - He told how he once bought rose oil from the soldiers, which they unknowingly managed to add to porridge, as well as coffee, which the soldiers called Turkish peas and even tried to cook. It was in Bucharest when they settled into apartments. He said that he was frightened only once, when he thought that his mind was clouded, he began to consider himself not Yakov, but Nikolai, but they gave him water and everything went away. He told of his affair with a pretty Bulgarian girl with whom he lodged and that they parted when the regiment moved on. Then he said that he had probably never truly loved and everyone began to say goodbye, and Princess Vera and Anna went to see Anosov off to the carriage.

Chapter 8

On the way back Anna walked with Bakhtinsky, and Vera, arm in arm with the general. They said that men and women are not very capable to the real love at this time. The first was a story about how a young ensign fell in love with an old debauchee, who got tired of her very quickly, he wanted to commit suicide by throwing himself on a train, but someone grabbed him in last moment, and his hands were cut off, so he became a beggar and froze. Another story about how a husband loved his wife very much, who openly cheated on him and did not put him in anything, although he was a real officer, brave and private. Vera told about her admirer, and the general noticed that, perhaps, her life had just intersected with real disinterested love.

Chapter 9

When Princess Vera entered the house, she heard a noise. It was her husband and brother talking. They discussed the gift and the note the princess had received. Nicholas was very categorical. He wanted to put an end to these notes once and for all, so that they would not cast a shadow on his sister's reputation. He reproached the Sheins that they did not take this act seriously, while it could lead to bad consequences. - He and Vasily Lvovich decided the next day to find a mysterious admirer, give him a gift and ask him not to bother Vera Nikolaevna with his letters anymore.

Chapter 10.

The next day Shein and Mirza-Bulat-Tuganovskiy visited Mr. Zheltkov, who was renting an apartment. He went up to him and saw young man thirty or thirty-five years old, fair-haired and a good face. They introduced themselves, but no one sat down, although Zheltkov offered to sit down twice. Nikolai asked him not to write to Vera anymore and returned the gift, to which Zheltkov agreed, but he only wanted to talk to Vasily. He explained to him that he really loves Vera Nikolaevna, but he apologizes very much and is ready not to write to her anymore. He asked permission to call her and write a letter. Nikolai was categorically against it, but Shein agreed and gave permission. In the evening, Prince Shein told his wife everything, and she had a premonition that Zheltkov would kill himself.

Chapter 11.

Princess Vera did not like to read newspapers, but a note caught her eye that a certain Zheltkov shot himself in his apartment, because he was embezzling state money. She was surprised that she sensed his death beforehand. In the evening, bring her a letter written by Zheltkov. He apologized for his behavior and for being a nuisance to her - for so long. He confessed his love, but promised that he would leave soon and she would never see him again. He asked her to play the D-dur sonata No. 2, from the Beethoven orchestra. Vera told her husband that something terrible intervened in their lives, to which he replied that he believed in Zheltkov's love - that he was not crazy. Vera decides to look at him. She asks permission from her husband, she does not want to offend him.

Chapter 12.

She arrived in a carriage to his house and asked to see Mr. Zheltkov. The hostess escorted her there, complaining that this had happened. She was ready to help him with his debts if he said so. She said that - during tea time - they found him already dead, and before that everyone heard, but did not pay attention to the sound of the shot. - Vera Nikolaevna saw him and remembered Anosov's words about true love, she approached and kissed him on the forehead with a friendly kiss. When she was about to leave, the hostess gave her a note from Zheltkov. - He told her, if the lady comes, give her a note. It was written there that best work Beethoven Sonata No. 2 from his orchestra. Vera could not help but cry. She told the woman that death always causes such a reaction in her, but in fact she cried precisely for Zheltkov.

Chapter 13

When Vera returned home, she found Jenny Reiter at her place. She was upset and asked her to play something, while she herself went out into the flower garden. She was sure that Jenny would play Beethoven's sonata. And so it happened, and in the music she heard words that brought her comfort. She was crying, clinging to the acacia tree. When Jenny came to her, she kissed her and said that he had forgiven her now and everything was fine. She was so influenced by music and, most likely, this is exactly what Zheltkov wanted to achieve, because even after his death he wished Vera Nikolaevna only happiness and prosperity.

On the seventeenth of September, Princess Vera Nikolaevna Sheyna has a name day. A messenger delivers a gift in her name - a case with a garnet bracelet. Bracelet made of blown gold of low standard, covered with red garnets. Among them is a small green stone - also a garnet, but very rare. A letter is also enclosed in the case, in which congratulations on the day of the angel and a request to accept this bracelet as a gift, which belonged to the great-grandmother of the writer.

A green pebble is a kind of talisman that gives a woman the gift of foresight, and protects a man from violent death. "Just like blood!" - the princess suddenly thought anxiously, looking at the densely red live lights of the pomegranates. The letter was signed: "Yours until death, after death, obedient servant G.S.Zh."

The princess returns to the living room. Her husband, Prince Vasily Lvovich, is just demonstrating own work- home album "The Princess and the Telegrapher in Love". There in the drawings and funny comments the story of the telegraph operator G. S. Zh., besieging Princess Vera with love confessions, is presented. For example, here is a picture where young Vasya Shein returns Vera wedding ring with the words: "I dare not interfere with your happiness, but it is my duty to warn you: telegraphers are seductive, but insidious."

For some reason, Vera is annoyed by this cute homely humor. She offers guests tea. After tea, the guests leave.

The old General Anosov, whom Vera and her sister Anna call Grandpa, stays with Vera in the garden and asks her to tell him about this story.

G.S.Zh. began to besiege Faith love letters two years before marriage. He obviously watched her tirelessly, saw her at parties and in the theater, noted every detail of her hair and dress. Vera finally answered him and asked him not to disturb him anymore. The mysterious correspondent no longer wrote about love, but continued to congratulate on holidays.

Anosov thought: “Maybe, Verochka, your life path crossed exactly the kind of love that women dream of and that men are no longer capable of.

After the guests left, Vera's brother Nikolai saw the bracelet and became angry: “He will brag about the fact that Princess Sheina accepts gifts from him! This ridiculous bourgeois thing! The bracelet must be returned!”

The husband of the princess trusts her, he is generally an easy and condescending person. But under pressure severe Nicholas he decides to return the bracelet and give an exemplary reprimand to the obsessive admirer. Soon they found out his address and surname - Georgy Zheltkov.

Very pale, "with a tender girlish face, with blue eyes and a stubborn childish chin with a dimple in the middle,” Zheltkov looks like a romantic young man in his 30-35 years.

He does not deny anything and even recognizes the indecency of his behavior. However, a certain dignity is felt in him: Zheltkov ignores the aggressive Nikolai and communicates only with Vasily Lvovich, who sympathizes with him. Let the gentlemen not worry: he will hide from the city and will not be heard from again. Shein felt that he was present at "some huge tragedy of the soul." Vera also has a premonition that this story will end with a quick death.

The next day, Vera Nikolaevna read in the newspaper about the suicide of G. S. Zheltkov, an official of the control chamber. In the evening the postman brought it Farewell letter. He calls his love for Vera "an enormous happiness sent to him by God." As he leaves, he repeats in delight: "Hallowed be thy name." If suddenly the adored woman remembers him, let her play the D major part of Beethoven's Appassionata.

The sensitive and delicate husband of Vera allows her to say goodbye to the deceased. In a poor apartment, the princess is met by a tearful Polish hostess, sadly remembering "Pan Jerzy". There is an expression on the face of the deceased, as if he recognized deep secret. Vera Nikolaevna kissed the cold forehead of the coffin and placed a red rose under his neck.

Returning home, Vera found her college friend, the famous pianist Jenny Reiter. The princess asked me to play something for her. And - by a miraculous coincidence - Jenny played exactly that part of the "Appassionata", which Zheltkov mentioned in his farewell letter. Each musical period ends in the thoughts of Vera Nikolaevna with a solemn and sad, prayerful “May the your name...».

What happened to you? Jenny was alarmed, noticing tears on her friend's face.

No, no... He has forgiven me now... I feel good... - Vera answered.

In August, a vacation at a suburban seaside resort was ruined bad weather. The deserted dachas were sadly soaked in the rain. But in September the weather changed again, the sunny days. Princess Vera Nikolaevna Sheina did not leave the dacha - repairs were underway in her house - and now she is enjoying the warm days.

The princess's birthday is coming. She is glad that it fell on the summer season - in the city they would have to give a ceremonial dinner, and the Sheins "barely made ends meet."

Vera's younger sister, Anna Nikolaevna Friesse, the wife of a very rich and very stupid person and brother Nicholas. Toward evening, Prince Vasily Lvovich Shein brings the rest of the guests.

A bundle with a small jewelry case in the name of Princess Vera Nikolaevna is brought in the midst of simple country entertainment. Inside the case is a gold, low-grade puffy bracelet covered with garnets that surround a small green pebble.

In addition to the garnet bracelet, a letter is found in the case. An unknown donor congratulates Vera on the day of the angel and asks to accept a bracelet that belonged to his great-grandmother. The green pebble is a very rare green garnet that communicates the gift of providence and protects men from violent death. The author of the letter reminds the princess how he wrote her "stupid and wild letters" seven years ago. The letter ends with the words: “Your obedient servant G.S.Zh. before death and after death.”

Prince Vasily Lvovich demonstrates at this moment his humorous home album, opened on the "story" "Princess Vera and the telegraph operator in love." “Better not,” Vera asks. But the husband nevertheless begins a commentary on his own drawings full of brilliant humor. Here the girl Vera receives a letter with kissing doves, signed by the telegraph operator P.P.Zh. Here the young Vasya Shein returns the wedding ring to Vera: “I dare not interfere with your happiness, and yet it is my duty to warn you: telegraphers are seductive, but insidious.” But Vera marries the handsome Vasya Shein, but the telegraph operator continues to persecute. Here he, disguised as a chimney sweep, enters the boudoir of Princess Vera. Here, having changed clothes, he enters their kitchen as a dishwasher. Here, at last, he is in a lunatic asylum.

After tea, the guests leave. Whispering to her husband to look at the case with the bracelet and read the letter, Vera sets off to see off General Yakov Mikhailovich Anosov. The old general, whom Vera and her sister Anna call grandfather, asks the princess to explain what is true in the prince's story.

G. S. J. pursued her with letters two years before her marriage. Obviously, he constantly watched her, knew where she was at the parties, how she was dressed. He served not on the telegraph, but in "some government institution little official. When Vera, also in writing, asked not to disturb her with her persecution, he fell silent about love and limited himself to congratulations on holidays, as well as today, on her name day. inventing funny story, the prince replaced the initials of the unknown admirer with his own.

The old man suggests that the unknown may be a maniac.

Vera finds her brother Nikolai very annoyed - he also read the letter and believes that his sister will get "in a ridiculous position" if she accepts this ridiculous gift. Together with Vasily Lvovich, he is going to find an admirer and return the bracelet.

The next day they find out the address of G.S.Zh. It turns out to be a blue-eyed man “with a gentle girlish face” about thirty or thirty-five years old named Zheltkov. Nikolai returns the bracelet to him. Zheltkov does not deny anything and recognizes the indecency of his behavior. Finding some understanding and even sympathy in the prince, he explains to him that he loves his wife, and this feeling will only kill death. Nikolai is outraged, but Vasily Lvovich treats him with pity.

Zheltkov admits that he squandered government money and is forced to flee the city, so that they will not hear from him again. He asks Vasily Lvovich for permission to write to his wife last letter. Having heard from her husband a story about Zheltkov, Vera felt "that this man would kill himself."

In the morning, Vera learns from the newspaper about the suicide of G. S. Zheltkov, an official of the control chamber, and in the evening the postman brings his letter.

Zheltkov writes that for him all life consists only in her, in Vera Nikolaevna. It is the love that God rewarded him for something. As he leaves, he repeats in delight: "Hallowed be thy name." If she remembers him, then let her play the D major part of Beethoven's Sonata No. 2, he thanks her from the bottom of his heart for being his only joy in life.

Vera is going to say goodbye to this man. The husband fully understands her impulse and lets his wife go.

The coffin with Zheltkov stands in the middle of his poor room. His lips smile blissfully and serenely, as if he has learned a deep secret. Vera lifts his head, puts a big red rose under his neck and kisses him on the forehead. She understands that the love that every woman dreams of has passed her by. In the evening, Vera asks a familiar pianist to play Beethoven's Appassionata for her, listens to music and cries. When the music ends, Vera feels that Zheltkov has forgiven her.

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Package with a small jewelry case in the name of the princess Vera Nikolaevna Sheina the messenger passed through the maid. The princess reprimanded her, but Dasha said that the messenger immediately ran away, and she did not dare to tear the birthday girl away from the guests.

Inside the case was gold, low standard blown bracelet, covered with pomegranates, among which was a small green pebble. The letter enclosed in the case contained congratulations on the day of the angel and a request to accept the bracelet that belonged to the great-grandmother. A green stone is a very rare green garnet that communicates the gift of providence and protects men from violent death. The letter ended with the words: “Your obedient servant G.S.Zh. before death and after death.”

Faith took over bracelet- alarming thick red live fires lit up inside the stones. "Just like blood!" she thought as she returned to the living room.

Prince Vasily Lvovich was demonstrating at that moment his humorous home album, which had just been opened on the “tale” “Princess Vera and the Telegraph Operator in Love”. “Better not,” she pleaded. But the husband has already begun commenting on his own drawings full of brilliant humor. Here a girl named Vera receives a letter with kissing doves, signed by the telegraph operator P.P.Zh. Here young Vasya Shein returns the wedding ring to Vera: “I don’t dare interfere with your happiness, and yet it’s my duty to warn you: telegraphers are seductive, but insidious." But Vera marries the handsome Vasya Shein, but the telegraph operator continues to persecute. Here he, disguised as a chimney sweep, enters the boudoir of Princess Vera. Here, having changed clothes, he enters their kitchen as a dishwasher. Here, at last, he is in a lunatic asylum, etc.

"Gentlemen, who wants tea?" Vera asked. After tea, the guests began to leave. The old general Anosov, whom Vera and her sister Anna called grandfather, asked the princess to explain what was true in the prince's story.

G.S.Z. (and not P.P.Z.) began harassing her with letters two years before her marriage. Obviously, he constantly watched her, knew where she was at the parties, how she was dressed. When Vera, also in writing, asked not to bother her with his persecution, he fell silent about love and limited himself to congratulations on holidays, as well as today, on her name day.

The old man was silent. "Could it be a maniac? Or maybe, Verochka, it was precisely the kind of love that women dream of and which more men are incapable of that crossed your life path.

After the guests left, Vera's husband and her brother Nikolai decided to find an admirer and return the bracelet. The next day they already knew the address of G.S.Zh. It turned out to be a man of about thirty to thirty-five. He did not deny anything and recognized the indecency of his behavior. Finding some understanding and even sympathy in the prince, he explained to him that, alas, he loves his wife and neither deportation nor prison will kill this feeling. Except death. He must confess that he has squandered government money and will be forced to flee the city, so that they will not hear from him again.

The next day, in the newspaper, Vera read about the suicide of G. S. Zheltkov, an official of the control chamber, and in the evening the postman brought his letter.

Zheltkov wrote that for him all life consisted only in her, in Vera Nikolaevna. It is the love that God rewarded him for something. As he leaves, he repeats in delight: "Hallowed be thy name." If she remembers him, then let her play the D major part of Beethoven's Appassionata, he thanks her from the bottom of his heart for the fact that she was his only joy in life.

Vera could not help but go to say goodbye to this man. Her husband fully understood her impulse.

The face of the person lying in the coffin was serene, as if he had learned a deep secret. Vera raised his head, placed a large red rose under his neck, and kissed him on the forehead. She understood that the love that every woman dreams of had passed her by.

Returning home, she found only her college friend, the famous pianist Jenny Reiter. "Play something for me," she asked.

And Jenny (wonder!) began to play the part of "Appassionata", which Zheltkov indicated in the letter. She listened, and in her mind words were composed, like couplets, ending with a prayer: “Hallowed be thy name.” "What happened to you?" asked Jenny, seeing her tears. “…He has forgiven me now. Everything is fine,” Vera replied.

1. About the work
2. main characters
3. Other characters
4. Summary
5. Conclusion
6. Story test

About the work

The story "Garnet Bracelet", written in 1910, occupies a significant place in the writer's work and in Russian literature. Paustovsky called the love story of a petty official to a married princess one of "the most fragrant and languishing stories about love." True, eternal love, which is a rare gift, is the theme of Kuprin's work.

In order to get acquainted with the plot and the characters of the story, we suggest reading the summary of the "Garnet Bracelet" chapter by chapter. It will provide an opportunity to comprehend the work, to comprehend the charm and lightness of the writer's language and to penetrate into the idea.

main characters

Vera Sheina- Princess, wife of the leader of the nobility Shein. She married for love, over time, love grew into friendship and respect. She began to receive letters from the official Zheltkov, who loved her, even before her marriage.

Zheltkov- official. Unrequitedly in love with Vera for many years.

Vasily Shein- Prince, provincial marshal of the nobility. Loves his wife.

Other characters

Yakov Mikhailovich Anosov- General, friend of the late Prince Mirza-Bulat-Tuganovsky, father of Vera, Anna and Nikolai.

Anna Friesse- sister of Vera and Nikolai.

Nikolay Mirza-Bulat-Tuganovsky- assistant prosecutor, brother of Vera and Anna.

Jenny Reiter- a friend of Princess Vera, a famous pianist.

Chapter 1

In mid-August, bad weather came to the Black Sea coast. Most of residents of coastal resorts began to hastily move to the city, leaving their dachas. Princess Vera Sheina was forced to stay at her dacha, as repairs were going on in her city house.

Along with the first days of September, it was warm, it became sunny and clear, and Vera was very happy wonderful days early autumn.

Chapter 2

On the day of her name day, September 17, Vera Nikolaevna was expecting guests. The husband left in the morning on business and had to bring guests for dinner.

Vera was glad that the name day fell on the summer season and there was no need to arrange a magnificent reception. The Shein family was on the verge of ruin, and the position of the prince obliged a lot, so the spouses had to live beyond their means. Vera Nikolaevna, whose love for her husband long ago degenerated into "a feeling of lasting, faithful, true friendship", supported him as much as she could, saved money, denied herself in many ways.

Her sister Anna Nikolaevna Friesse came to help Vera with the housework and to receive guests. Not similar in appearance or characters, the sisters were very attached to each other from childhood.

Chapter 3

Anna had not seen the sea for a long time, and the sisters briefly sat down on a bench above the cliff, “falling like a sheer wall deep into the sea” - to admire the lovely landscape.

Remembering the prepared gift, Anna gave her sister notebook in old binding.

Chapter 4

By evening, guests began to arrive. Among them was General Anosov, a friend of Prince Mirza-Bulat-Tuganovsky, the late father of Anna and Vera. He was very attached to his sisters, they, in turn, adored him and called him grandfather.

Chapter 5

Those gathered in the Sheins' house were entertained at the table by the host, Prince Vasily Lvovich. He had a special gift for storytelling: humorous stories were always based on an event that happened to someone he knew. But in his stories, he so "exaggerated", so bizarrely combined truth and fiction, and spoke with such a serious and businesslike look that all the listeners laughed non-stop. This time his story concerned the failed marriage of his brother, Nikolai Nikolaevich.

Rising from the table, Vera involuntarily counted the guests - there were thirteen of them. And, since the princess was superstitious, she became restless.

After dinner everyone except Vera sat down to play poker. She was about to go out onto the terrace when the maid called her. On the table in the office, where both women went, the servant laid out a small package tied with a ribbon, and explained that a messenger had brought it with a request to hand it over to Vera Nikolaevna personally.

Vera found a gold bracelet and a note in the bag. First, she began to examine the decoration. In the center of a low-grade gold bracelet stood out several magnificent garnets, each about the size of a pea. Looking at the stones, the birthday girl turned the bracelet, and the stones flared up like "charming dense red living lights." With anxiety, Vera realized that these fires looked like blood.

He congratulated Vera on Angel Day, asked him not to be angry with him for daring to write letters to her a few years ago and expect an answer. He asked to accept as a gift a bracelet, the stones of which belonged to his great-grandmother. From her silver bracelet, he, exactly repeating the location, transferred the stones to the gold one and drew Vera's attention to the fact that no one had yet worn the bracelet. He wrote: “however, I believe that there is no treasure in the whole world worthy of decorating you” and admitted that all that is now left in him is “only reverence, eternal admiration and slavish devotion”, every minute desire for happiness to the Faith and joy if she is happy.

Vera pondered whether to show the gift to her husband.

Chapter 6

The evening passed smoothly and lively: they played cards, talked, listened to the singing of one of the guests. Prince Shein showed several guests a home album with his own drawings. This album was an addition to humorous stories Vasily Lvovich. Those looking at the album laughed so loudly and contagiously that the guests gradually moved towards them.

The last story in the drawings was called "Princess Vera and the telegraph operator in love", and the text of the story itself, according to the prince, was still "prepared". Vera asked her husband: “It’s better not to,” but he either did not hear, or did not pay attention to her request and began his cheerful story about how Princess Vera received passionate messages from a telegraph operator in love.

Chapter 7

After tea, a few guests left, the rest settled on the terrace. General Anosov told stories from his army life, Anna and Vera listened to him with pleasure, as in childhood.

Before going to see off the old general, Vera invited her husband to read the letter she had received.

Chapter 8

On the way to the crew waiting for the general, Anosov talked with Vera and Anna about the fact that he had not met true love in his life.

According to him, “love should be a tragedy. The greatest secret in the world."

The general asked Vera about what was true in the story told by her husband. And she gladly shared with him: "some madman" pursued her with his love and sent letters even before marriage. The princess also told about the parcel with the letter. In thought, the general noted that it was quite possible that Vera's life was crossed by "a single, all-forgiving, ready for anything, modest and selfless" love that any woman dreams of.

Chapter 9

After seeing off the guests and returning to the house, Sheina joined in the conversation between her brother Nikolai and Vasily Lvovich. The brother believed that the "nonsense" of the fan should be stopped immediately - the story with the bracelet and letters could ruin the family's reputation.

After discussing what to do, it was decided that the next day Vasily Lvovich and Nikolai would find Vera's secret admirer and, demanding to leave her alone, would return the bracelet.

Chapter 10

Shein and Mirza-Bulat-Tuganovsky, Vera's husband and brother, paid a visit to her admirer. It turned out to be an official Zheltkov, a man of thirty or thirty-five.

Nikolai immediately explained to him the reason for the arrival - with his gift, he crossed the line of patience of Vera's relatives. Zheltkov immediately agreed that he was to blame for the persecution of the princess.

Turning to the prince, Zheltkov spoke about the fact that he loves his wife and feels that he can never stop loving her, and all that remains for him is death, which he will accept "in any form". Before speaking further, Zheltkov asked permission to leave for a few minutes to call Vera.

During the official’s absence, in response to Nikolai’s reproaches that the prince was “limp” and sorry for his wife’s admirer, Vasily Lvovich explained to his brother-in-law what he felt. “This person is not capable of deceiving and lying knowingly. Is he to blame for love, and is it possible to control such a feeling as love - a feeling that has not yet found an interpreter for itself. The prince was not just sorry for this man, he realized that he had witnessed "some kind of enormous tragedy of the soul."

When he returned, Zheltkov asked permission to write a last letter to Vera and promised that the visitors would never hear or see him again. At the request of Vera Nikolaevna, he "as soon as possible" stops "this story."

In the evening, the prince gave his wife the details of the visit to Zheltkov. She was not surprised by what she heard, but was slightly agitated: the princess felt that "this man will kill himself."

Chapter 11

The next morning, Vera learned from the newspapers that the official Zheltkov committed suicide due to the waste of state money. All day Sheina thought about the "unknown person", whom she never had a chance to see, not understanding why she foresaw the tragic denouement of his life. She also remembered the words of Anosov about true love, which may have met on her way.

The postman brought Zheltkov's farewell letter. He admitted that he regards love for Vera as a great happiness, that his whole life lies only in the princess. He asked for forgiveness for the fact that “an uncomfortable wedge crashed into Vera’s life”, thanked her simply for the fact that she lives in the world, and said goodbye forever. “I tested myself - this is not a disease, not a manic idea - this is love, which God was pleased to reward me for something. Leaving, I say in delight: “Hallowed be thy name,” he wrote.

After reading the message, Vera told her husband that she would like to go and see the man who loved her. The prince supported this decision.

Chapter 12

Vera found an apartment that Zheltkov rented. The landlady came out to meet her, and they started talking. At the request of the princess, the woman spoke about last days Zheltkova, then Vera went into the room where he was lying. The expression on the face of the deceased was so peaceful, as if this man "before parting with life, learned some deep and sweet secret that resolved his whole human life."

At parting, the landlady told Vera that in case a woman suddenly died and a woman came to say goodbye, Zheltkov asked me to tell her that the best work of Beethoven - he wrote down his name - “L. van Beethoven. Son. No. 2, op. 2.

Largo Appassionato.

Vera wept, explaining her tears by the painful "impression of death."

Chapter 13

Vera Nikolaevna returned home late in the evening. At home, only Jenny Reiter was waiting for her, and the princess rushed to her friend with a request to play something. Without doubting that the pianist will perform “the very passage from the Second Sonata that this dead man asked for with funny last name Zheltkov ”, the princess recognized the music from the first chords. Vera's soul seemed to be divided into two parts: at the same time she was thinking about the love that had passed by once in a thousand years, and why she should listen to this particular work.

“The words were forming in her mind. They so coincided in her thoughts with the music that they were like couplets that ended with the words: “Hallowed be thy name.” These words were about great love. Vera cried about the past feeling, and the music excited and calmed her at the same time. When the sounds of the sonata died down, the princess calmed down.

When Jenny asked why she was crying, Vera Nikolaevna answered only her. understandable phrase: “He has forgiven me now. Everything is fine" .

Conclusion

Telling a story sincere and pure but unrequited love hero to married woman, Kuprin pushes the reader to think about what place a feeling occupies in a person’s life, what it gives the right to, how it changes inner world one who has the gift of love.

Acquaintance with the work of Kuprin can begin with brief retelling"Pomegranate Bracelet" And then, already knowing storyline, having an idea of ​​​​the heroes, with pleasure to dive into the rest of the writer's story about wonderful world true love.