To A. S. Suvorin, 23 December 1890. Moscow.

Dated 23 December 1890, from Moscow, to Alexei Sergeyevich Suvorin, the publisher of *Novoye Vremya* and Chekhov’s regular correspondent, written shortly after his return from the Sakhalin journey.

Chekhov sends Suvorin a story that will arrive by Monday, joking that since it was conceived on the island of Ceylon, Suvorin may – for effect – date it "Colombo, 12 November" underneath, and asks that the proofs be read more carefully than usual, since Suvorin’s Christmas stories habitually appear riddled with misprints. He then reports, tersely and without alarm, a cough and heart palpitations, professing not to understand the cause but describing his state of mind as excellent; he adds a wry aside about his own "impotence in statu quo" and says he has no wish to marry, humorously asking Suvorin not to come to any wedding. He closes by promising a separate congratulatory letter (for the approaching new year) and signs off.