Millionaire by Alexandr Kuprin. Short summary

5 seconds

A poor official wants to get rich, but this desire is not dictated by whim, but by need. However, the desire to take care of his loved ones has broken him. Dreams never became reality.

1 minute

The events take place in the town of Krasilov. Every year the local «society» gathered around the same table: the police, the clergy, the head of the post office, and the teacher and his assistant.

The main character, the poor postal official Aggei Fomich, sits modestly at the end of the table. The man was skinny, with a pale face and bright eyes. His wife was expecting a child from one day to the next, and his eldest son had no shoes. He came to the event only to ask for a loan.

Gradually the conversation turns to how difficult life has become, and how difficult it is for small officials to make it in public. Stories are told of those who became millionaires by chance. The guests are getting ready to leave, but Aggei Fomich does not get over his shyness to ask for money. Rakitin stayed, but he did not want to lend his comrade any.

The disappointed official leaves. On the way, he imagines he has found a black wallet. The man quickly picks up the lying object and runs home. However, his family realizes that there is no money. Aggei Fomich has lost his mind.