A Sinner from Toledo by Anton Chekhov. Short summary

5 seconds

The husband hides his wife to keep her from being accused of witchcraft. Then, in order to receive absolution, he kills her himself and brings her body to the judges.

1 minute

Maria Spalanzo, declared a witch, is wanted in Barcelona. Whoever delivers her alive or dead is promised absolution.

Maria Spalanzo suffered because of her beauty. One evening she was lost and a monk saw her. Because of her overly beautiful face, he declared her a witch.

The girl’s husband, convinced of her innocence, hid Mary on a ship. The beautiful girl hid there for months and might have sailed on the ship and been rescued in another country, had it not been for her husband’s foolishness.

He considered himself a great sinner and longed for forgiveness. Once in Toledo he had helped his physician father in the preparation of medicine, which he considered a demonic work. The man ponders how he can receive absolution.

He loves Mary and does not want to give her to the priests who would torture her. So he gives the woman poison and provides the judges with his wife’s dead body. He is absolved of all his sins.