To M. N. Albov, 22 October 1891. Moscow.

Dated 22 October 1891, from Moscow, to Mikhail Nilovich Albov, an editor at the journal "Severny Vestnik" ("Northern Herald"), the same addressee as the letter of 30 September 1891.

Chekhov reports that he has set aside, for the time being, the novella he had mentioned to Albov in his previous letter: he is now certain it will not clear the censor, and sending it on would only waste time and leave Albov without the story wanted for the January issue. He explains that Suvorin, visiting Moscow recently, heard the opening twenty lines and the plot and told him he would not risk printing it. Rattled, Chekhov has decided to shelve the novella and write something new instead. He reports that the new piece is coming along slowly, that he will be in Petersburg in early November and will see Albov then, and that he will try to have the story finished by that visit – or finish it in Petersburg if not. He closes with a brief plea for forgiveness and signs off.

The tone is anxious and apologetic – a writer rattled by a respected colleague’s blunt verdict on a piece he cannot place, and scrambling to make good on an editor’s expectation.