To A. S. Suvorin, 4 January 1889. Moscow.

1 A very short business note of 4 January 1889 from Moscow to Alexei Sergeyevich Suvorin, sent, by Chekhov’s own account, as a second letter the same day (he notes he had "already sent" Suvorin one letter earlier that day; compare and the following day’s, which continues the same "Tatyana Repina" distribution business). Chekhov is acting as an intermediary between Suvorin and the Moscow theatrical script-copying and distribution agent F. A. Rassokhin over getting copies of Suvorin’s play "Tatyana Repina" printed and sent out to provincial theatres before the season ends.

2 Framed as a letter "for guidance" – apparently a model or prompt Chekhov is handing Suvorin to act on – the note urges Suvorin to free his "poor captive" (the play, figured as a prisoner) and let her "go for a walk around the provinces" (2), reports that Rassokhin is willing either to buy or to take on commission 100 copies (2), and asks Suvorin to have it printed quickly and sent on through his own distribution agency, stressing urgency since the theatrical season is nearly over (2). The letter closes with regards to Suvorin’s family and a reminder that Chekhov had already sent him one letter earlier that same day (2), before the brief signature (3).