The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Chekhov, Anton. “The Story of an Unknown Man.” Vintage Books, 2005.

Stepan is a nobleman posing as a servant to a government official, Georgiy Ivanych Orlov. Stepan takes on this job in the hope of learning state secrets, as Orlov’s father is a prominent statesman and a “serious enemy” of Stepan’s “cause” (241). Stepan is consumptive. One day, Orlov sends Stepan to deliver a letter to a married woman called Zinaida Fyodorovna Krasnovsky. He does so, and the woman’s sweet smell leaves a lasting impression on him.

Stepan gets along horribly with the other servant, Polya. Polya often steals from her master. As for their routine, they wait on Orlov’s three guests over every Thursday: Pekarsky, Gruzin, and Kukushkin. All are wealthy and powerful individuals who share a cynical worldview.

Zinaida shows up one day at Orlov’s to announce that she left her husband and is moving in. Orlov is stunned. All wonder how this bachelor will get on playing the role of a husband.

Orlov continues having his guests over every Thursday. Zinaida always goes out then. Orlov’s friends do their best to convince him to get her a separate apartment. One evening at dinner, Zinaida tells Orlov she thinks Polya is stealing from her. Orlov urges her to drop the matter. When Zinaida suggests they talk about the future, Orlov refuses to do so. Zinaida cries and Orlov apologizes. Stepan becomes attached to Zinaida.

Orlov pretends to leave for a business trip, but really spends the whole week at Pekarsky’s. Zinaida gives Stepan loving telegrams to send to Orlov. While Orlov is gone, Zinaida tries to fire Polya but Polya refuses to leave. Zinaida is overjoyed when Orlov finally returns home.

Zinaida and Orlov get into a fight one day as he prepares to visit his father. She accuses him of hiding her. He tells her it is her fault for assuming that he is some romantic hero. He locks himself in his study for the rest of the night. Orlov soon leaves on another fake business trip.

While Orlov is gone, his father comes to visit. Stepan reflects that he could easily harm this man, his enemy, but does not. He realizes his priorities are changing. Gruzin pays Zinaida a visit. Kukushkin comes next. Fed up with their lies, Stepan strikes Kukushkin in the face as Kukushkin is leaving. Stepan packs his bags and writes Orlov a letter in which he exposes his true identity. Stepan tells Zinaida that Orlov is really at Pekarsky’s. She agrees to run away with him.

Stepan and Zinaida go abroad. She is pregnant with Orlov’s child. Stepan is sick but happy because he is near his beloved. Zinaida is depressed and often cries in the night. One evening, she accuses him of wanting her as his mistress and of being just as bad as Orlov. She dies the day after giving birth to a baby girl named Sonya. She poisoned herself.

Two years later, Stepan moves back to Moscow with Sonya, whom he loves dearly. He visits Orlov to ensure that the child will be taken care of after his death. Orlov tells him that he thinks of the letter Stepan wrote him often, but that he finds it strange that Stepan should care so much about another person’s life. Orlov arranges for Sonya to be sent to a boarding school but claims no formal responsibility for the child. Stepan wonders what will become of her.