To A. P. Lensky, 27 February 1891. Moscow.

1 A lively invitation to the actor and director Alexander Pavlovich Lensky, written from Moscow, proposing that Lensky join Chekhov on a trip to a glass factory in Vladimir province during the first week of Lent. Chekhov paints the excursion in a burst of concrete, comic detail – rooks, starlings, priests, constables, hellish furnaces – promises Lensky can have crockery made to his own designs while there, and closes by naming Levitan as the only other person he might have invited (ruled out because he is bound for Petersburg), then reports in passing that he is at work on a long story.

2 After the dateline (1-2) and salutation (3), Chekhov proposes the trip to Komissarov’s glass factory in Vladimir province, evoking its spring atmosphere and comically infernal furnaces, and sketches the travel plan (rail, then horses, lodging with his brother) (4). He adds that Lensky will come away with glassware made to his own designs (5), reports his own imminent trip to the Kiselyovs’ estate at Babkino and his return on Monday to collect an answer (6), repeats his appeal not to let the season pass (7), sends regards to Lensky’s wife and son and presses the invitation once more, noting that Levitan is unavailable and no one else will be persuaded to come (8), mentions in passing that he is writing a long story (9), and closes with a valediction and signature (10-11).