On Official Duty

"On Official Duty" is an 1899 short story by Anton Chekhov.

Doctor Starchenko and Lyzhin, a young deputy examining magistrate, arrive at Syrnya to attend to the case of Lesnitsky, an insurance agent, who, upon arrival to the village three days before, entered the local zemstvo house, ordered himself a samovar, unpacked his food packets, and then all of as sudden shot himself.

The suicide was so bizarre, that the inquest was deemed to be necessary.

classic literature, Chekhov stories, short stories, classics 19th century, english