The Bracelet of Garnets by Alexandr Kuprin. Short summary

5 seconds

An official falls in love with a married princess, writing letters to her for seven years. Not waiting for reciprocity, the main character commits suicide. A pomegranate bracelet is a birthday present.

1 minute

Princess Vera is a faithful wife, although her former love for her husband has already grown into a strong friendship. Vera has a secret admirer, G. S. Zh. (Zheltkov), who appeared even before her marriage. He writes letters to the princess.

On the day of Vera’s name-day a messenger brings a package. It turns out to contain an expensive pomegranate bracelet and a note. In the evening, the birthday girl shows the bracelet to her husband Vasily and brother Nikolai and lets them read the note.

The prince, together with his wife’s brother, finds the culprit and returns the bracelet. The prince allows the unfortunate man to speak to Vera on the phone. Vera takes a promise from Zheltkov to leave her life. Zheltkov asks the prince for permission to send one last letter. The man’s miserable appearance touches the happy husband, and he agrees.

The next morning Vera reads in the newspaper about the suicide. The lover’s last letter arrives with the evening mail. The meaning of the letter: Zheltkov has been kept in this life only by love. He wishes Vera happiness and asks her to play a Beethoven sonata in his memory. Vera sincerely mourns the unhappy man.