: The titular adviser considers himself a small person, but at the same time wants to realize his high ambitions. However, the appearance of a vile double destroys his reputation in high society.
The story consists of thirteen chapters. The author named "Petersburg Poem"
The titular adviser Yakov Petrovich Golyadkin wakes up in his apartment on a gray autumn day. The mirror reflects a "sleepy, blind, and rather bald-headed figure", and its owner, apparently, is pleased with it. Taking out his wallet, Mr. Golyadkin finds 750 rubles in it - a "notable amount"!
Yakov Petrovich goes to his doctor, Krestyan Ivanovich Rutenshpits. At him Mr. Golyadkin speaks inconsistently, gets confused, calls himself a humble, unpretentious person: “... I love peace, not secular noise. There they ... you need to be able to parquet flooring with boots ... a hearty compliment you need to be able to make, sir ... I have not learned all these tricks. ” Yakov Petrovich continues: “... I am even proud that not a big man, but a small one. Not an intriguer - and I'm also proud of it ... ”The nephew of Andrei Filippovich, the head of Golyadkin, intends to get married to Klara Olsufievna. Golyadkin is indignant at this matchmaking. Golyadkin notes that rumors were circulating about his “close acquaintance,” as if he had “given a subscription to marry, and he is already a groom on the other side,” and his bride was a shameless German Karolina Ivanovna. Golyadkin leaves, leaving Krestyan Ivanovich perplexed and thinking that the doctor is stupid.
Mr. Golyadkin goes to Olsufy Ivanovich Berendeev, but he is not allowed. In honor of the birthday of his daughter, Klara Olsufevna, a dinner and ball are held in the apartment of the State Councilor. At this time, Mr. Golyadkin stands in the hallway of Berendeev. Having made up his mind, Yakov Petrovich secretly enters the dance hall. Immediately all eyes are fixed on him, "our hero" is hiding in a corner, feeling "like a real insect." Golyadkin expelled on the street.
Mr. Golyadkin flees, "fleeing from enemies." It is a terrible November night - "wet, foggy, rainy, snowy." Mr. Golyadkin "not only now wanted to run away from himself, but even completely destroyed." He stands for a long time on the embankment and stares unconsciously into the murky black water. On the way, Golyadkin meets a passerby who minces in the same way as he does, along the sidewalk, a little with a princess. Yakov Petrovich meets the stranger several times. Finally he finds him in his apartment on Shestilavochnaya Street: it was "none other than himself, ... another Mr. Goliadkin, ... his double in every way."
In the morning, Golyadkin arrives at his department. Here a new man appears - yesterday's double of Yakov Petrovich, having exactly the same surname. However, among the colleagues no surprise is found. After a working day, the double wants to speak with Yakov Petrovich, and "our hero" invites Goliadkin Jr. to his home for a conversation.
The guest’s name is also: Yakov Petrovich. Mr. Golyadkin feeds the guest with dinner and gives a punch, imbued with sympathy for him: “We, Yakov Petrovich, will live like fish and water, like our brothers; ... we’ll be cunning, at the same time we’ll be cunning ... to the point of intriguing them ... ”
In the morning, Yakov Petrovich does not find his guest. Now Golyadkin Sr. regrets receiving the twin. He goes to the service and at the door collides with Golyadkin Jr., but he does not notice yesterday’s welcoming host. Now Golyadkin Jr. is trying to curry favor with his superiors dishonestly: he gives out a well-composed paper of the real Golyadkin as his own. In front of other officials, Golyadkin Jr. puts his twin to reproach: pinching everyone on the cheek and giving a click on the abdomen. Then, having pretended to be a busy look, it disappears. But the real Golyadkin cannot afford to offend himself and decides to protest. After the service, he intends to speak with Golyadkin Jr., but he leaves him in a carriage.
“... he’s such a playful, nasty disposition - he’s such a scoundrel, ... lick, lizoblyud, he is such a Golyadkin!” - Yakov Petrovich thinks about his enemy. Yakov Petrovich writes a letter to him demanding an explanation. He gives the letter to the servant Petrushka and orders him to find out the address of the titular adviser Golyadkin. Petrushka reports that Golyadkin lives on Shestilavochnaya Street, but this is the address of the real Golyadkin! Having decided that the loafer is drunk, Yakov Petrovich leaves him.
Half asleep, Golyadkin sees himself in good company, but each time one famous person appears and denigrates Mr. Golyadkin. He wants to run wherever his eyes look, but "an abyss of completely similar ones" has formed around him.
Golyadkin wakes up at one in the afternoon. With horror, he realizes that he was late for service. He approaches his department and through the clerk passes the letter to Mr. Goliadkin Jr.
Already at dusk, Yakov Petrovich enters his department. The co-workers are looking at him with some offensive curiosity. Among the officials, Mr. Goliadkin Jr. appears and reaches out to the real Yakov Petrovich. He warmly and in a friendly way shakes her. “Suddenly with unbearable impudence and rudeness,” the double pulls out his hand and shakes it off as if he had messed it up, then wipes his fingers with a handkerchief. The insulted Golyadkin Sr. seeks sympathy from his colleague, Anton Antonovich Setochkin, but he openly condemns his indecent act with respect to two noble persons.
Having caught up with Goliadkin Jr., Yakov Petrovich offers to explain himself in the coffee room: “... I have never been your enemy. The evil people have unjustly described me ... For my part, I am ready ... ”The enemy repeats the morning joke with a handshake, repeatedly insulting the namesake, and disappears. Suddenly Golyadkin Sr. discovers a letter in his morning sent by the clerk. In it, Klara Olsufyevna to ask to save her from death, from a person disgusting to her and appoints Golyadkin a meeting at two in the afternoon. After reading the message in the tavern, Yakov Petrovich sees the genital beside himself. Deciding that he did not pay for lunch, he reaches into his pocket and finds a bottle of medicine prescribed by Krestyan Ivanovich four days ago. "The dark, reddish-disgusting liquid gleamed with an ominous reflection ..." The bubble falls out of hands and breaks.
Yakov Petrovich, thinking about Klara Olsufyevna, notes the spoiling of young romantic persons who have read French novels. He hires a carriage, rides to His Excellency and asks for protection from enemies. His Excellency promises to consider the matter, and Yakov Petrovich expelled in the lobby. Golyadkin rushes to Berendeev to wait for a signal from Klara Olsufyevna. Soon, Yakov Petrovich was noticed, and Golyadkin Jr. asked him to come in. Golyadkin Sr. is sitting near Olsufy Ivanovich, all eyes are turned to them. Finally, sweeps through the crowd "Rides, rides!". Krestyan Ivanovich appears in the room and takes Yakov Petrovich with him. The twin runs after the carriage for some time, but soon completely disappears. Here the hero notes with horror that this is not the former, but another, terrible Krestyan Petrovich: “Alas! He had already foreseen this for a long time! ”
