figure
Medovsky
also: Медовский
The district police captain (исправник), a dissipated former hussar officer and distant relation of the Ivashins who cherishes a fond, fatherly admiration for Zina; he overtakes Pyotr Mikhailych on the road in section 17, still unaware that Zina has left for Vlasich's, and Pyotr Mikhailych lies to him about her whereabouts rather than explain.
Reading notes
- Neighbors §16 district police captain
исправник (ispravnik): the chief of police for a district (uyezd), a state-appointed official responsible for law enforcement and local administration in the countryside -- roughly analogous to a county sherif. Medovsky's rank explains both his social standing among the local gentry and the awkwardness of Pyotr Mikhailych having to lie to him.