To N. A. Leikin, 22 December 1888. Moscow.
Н. А. ЛЕЙКИНУ, 22 декабря 1888 г. Москва.
Headnote
1 Written from Moscow on 22 December 1888 to the publisher and humorist Nikolai Alexandrovich Leikin, editor of "Oskolki" ("Splinters"). This is a short business letter of running accounts: Chekhov explains he is holding off on sending Leikin his money and a statement of accounts because a Mr. Stupin has not yet produced his own account, having asked Chekhov to call back later; Chekhov plans to try again on Christmas Eve, and warns that if Stupin stalls again he will give up waiting and send Leikin the money regardless.
2 He then itemizes what has come in: the bookseller Salaev has sold 60 rubles 90 kopecks’ worth of stock and reports "Motley Tales" ("Пестрые рассказы," Chekhov’s own 1886 story collection, its sales also discussed in) completely sold out, asking for more copies to be sent; Salaev is quoted telling his brother that if there is no time to send copies now, they should simply be turned over to the firm’s Petersburg warehouse. A further 12 rubles has come in from a Mr. Vasilyev, bringing the total in hand to 72 rubles 90 kopecks. Chekhov now says he will go to Stupin the next day, the 23rd, rather than waiting for Christmas Eve as first planned.
3 Two further items follow: Leikin’s play "Kum pozharny" ("Godfather the Fireman") is stalled at Korsh’s Moscow theatre awaiting a benefit performer to take it up, and Moscow is in the grip of severe frost. Chekhov mentions in passing that he has sent a story to Khudekov (the editor Sergei Nikolayevich Khudekov, of the Petersburg journal "Peterburgskaya Gazeta"). The letter closes with Christmas good wishes, a bow to Leikin’s wife Praskovya Nikiforovna and son Fedya, and regards from Chekhov’s own family, followed by the signature.
4 Continuity note: this letter is the direct predecessor of (23 December 1888, not yet translated at time of writing), in which Chekhov follows through exactly as promised here – sending Leikin an itemized accounting with Salaev at 60 r. 90 k., Vasilyev at 12 r., and Stupin now settled at 21 r., for a total of 93 r. 90 k., along with a hundred-ruble note. The two letters should be read as a single accounting episode a day apart.