An Old Man's Sin

It first appeared in Biblioteka Dlya Chteniya's January 1861 issue, dated as "23 November 1860, Petersburg" and later that year was included into the Works by A.F.

Iosaf Ferapontov lives in a world of backwardness, abusive seminarian schooling, selfish nobles, and ugly serfdom.

Ferapontov is a lover of literature and art who first makes it through school, and then is given a civil service post, where he serves faithfully and honestly until he's middle-aged.

The two convince Ferapontov that they need more than two thousand rubles to settle the young woman's outstanding debts.

Ferapontov then goes back to work at his office and a large sum of money is soon deposited with him by the representative of a rich local count.