Stationmasterappears in The Stationmaster

In Russia, as indeed in many European countries, each stagecoach station was supervised by a stationmaster. The man would live in the same building from which he conducted his business. The stationmaster was in charge of organizing routes and schedules, procuring vehicles and horses, and providing, for a fee, transient lodgings and board for travelers. Simeon Vyrin is the protagonist and stationmaster of an unnamed post-station in Pushkin's story The Stationmaster.

Major Platon Kovalyov's Noseappears in The Nose

Major Platon Kovalyov's nose leaves his face one morning, apparently upon its own initiative. The departure causes no physical harm but is very embarrassing to the Major. The nose pursues an independent existence as a government employee for several days before being apprehended by the police, who return it to the Major. After several weeks pass by, the nose reattaches during the night, again apparently upon...