The Lost Letter by Nikolai Gogol. Short summary

5 seconds

A Cossack carries an important charter sewn into his cap. On the way he meets a Cossack, who is taken away by the devil along with the Cossack’s hat. The Cossack takes his hat and the letter from the devil.

1 minute

The Cossack takes the Cossack’s letter from the Hetman to the Tsaritsa. In order not to lose or spoil the important paper, he stitches it into his hat.

On the road he is with a stray Cossack. They are joined by another drunkard, and the three of them travel together. The Cossack confesses that he has sold his soul to the Devil and that the Devil will take him tonight. The Cossack promises to help.

They decide not to sleep all night. But the Cossack cannot stand it and falls asleep. In the morning he sees that the companions have disappeared, and with them his hat.

The Cossack learns how to get to the Underworld, and goes there to retrieve the hat with the letter. He enters Hell, plays a game with unclean forces for the hat and wins. By hook or by crook, he gets out of the Underworld.

He safely delivers the letter. But every year, on this day, the Cossack’s wife goes dancing for no reason, and the devilry goes on in the house.