Vladimir Dubrovsky

When you came to the hall where the teacher was waiting for you, you noticed with amazement the confusion on his pale face. You opened the piano, sang a few notes, but the teacher, under the pretext of a headache, apologized, interrupted the lesson and, closing the notes, secretly handed you a note. Without having time to think, you accepted it and repented at that very moment, but he was no longer in the hall. You went to your room, unfolded the note and read: "Be at the gazebo by the stream today at 7 o'clock. I need to talk to you." Your curiosity was greatly aroused. You had long desired and feared him. You would have been pleased to hear confirmation of what you had guessed, but you felt that it would be improper for you to hear such an explanation from a man who, in his condition, could not hope to win your hand. You decided to go to the meeting. When you had passed unnoticed, so that your father would not notice you, you came to the arbour and saw the deforge. He said:

• I am not who you imagined me to be. I am Dubrovsky, not the Frenchman Deforge.

Dubrovsky pretended to be a French teacher, a Frenchman named Deforge, but he couldn't keep this secret from the one he fell in love with - Masha Troekurova. The daughter of the most noble man - Kirila Petrovich. Egoist, proud, evil. But Masha herself is not like that at all. She is kind, quiet, modest and sympathetic.