The doctor kirilova dying of diphtheria only son. the same evening it comes to his neighbour, ubogin, and begs to save the woman suddenly suffered a heart attack. the doctor is not able to go to patient, he by all means refuses. but ubogin, after much persuasion, still carries the doctor to himself. there, it appears that no heart attack was not his wife played a disease that no interference to run away from home with her lover. ubogin struck by grief and resentment, he appealed for support and sympathy to present to the doctor. the doctor, in turn, deeply offended disdain for his own grief. flares up the quarrel. neighbours parted sworn enemies.