The action takes place in St. Petersburg, in a hired house, where the squandering nobleman Verkholet and the wealthy noblewoman from the village - Chvankina live.
The landowner Prostodum meets the richly dressed servant of his nephew Verkholet - Polist. Both recognize each other, but Polist, not wanting to be recognized, evades the questions of Prostodum until he finds out about a hundred rubles left to him by his aunt. Polist's tone instantly changes to flattering, and he tries to get out of the situation, calling himself a close acquaintance of Polist. Simpleton, supposedly believing him, characterizes Polist as a rogue and a drunkard. Polista’s false receiver vehemently denies these characteristics and defines Polista as “lackeys of beauty,” which they set as an example to other lackeys. An imaginary friend suggests that Prostodum transfer money to Polist, but he, smiling, says that he will first put out one hundred sticks, and then he will give one hundred rubles. Seeing that there is no other way to get money, Polist admits deception and is ready to accept punishment. Simpleton, in turn, does not want to recognize Polist, indicating that the color mismatch between his and Polist's hair. He explains everything with the paint received from the French shopkeeper, from whom his nephew Verkholet buys flour. Finally, angry, Polist begins to lie, introducing the owner as a very important official, distributing posts and close to the court in which he serves as secretary. The boastful pressure of Polist is so great that Prostodum begins to believe him and reverently hands the money, recognizing his friend.
Suddenly, a tailor appears and begins to demand debt for a frock coat. The policeman, playing the role of the secretary of the big gentleman, hardly escorts him out the door, explaining to Prostodum the assertiveness of the tailor with the desire to obtain the rank of logger.
Appeared Verholet quickly responds to Polist's hint about his presence at the court and it is important to inform his uncle that he is a count. Frantic Simpleton, fawning in front of his nephew, asks for himself some good rank, for which he receives a promise to make him a senator. Completely taken aback, the Simpleton declares his desire to serve his nephew than he can. Verkholet, taking this opportunity and referring to a quick marriage and a thief-manager, lures all his savings from Prostodum as a service - three thousand rubles and a promise to be his manager. To organize his own wedding, the Verkholet is leaving to hire hayduks and footmen for the money received.
Chvankina’s maid appears, Marina, who sighs through Polist. He represents the nobleman of Prostodum as his uncle. Marina is surprised by the nobility of Polist, but he turns out to be so eloquent that he convinces her, hinting at a possible marriage to her. In response, Marina regretfully reports that Verkholet’s planned wedding with her daughter Chvankina, Milena, is upset, since Milena is in love with Zamira and begged her mother to do so. Therefore, her marriage to Polist can not take place, but Marina advises not to lose heart, to step on the lady, and she, for her part, will try to quarrel the lovers.
Having met with Chvankina, Marina informs her about the county of Verholet and suggests that now he is unlikely to agree to marry Milena. Marina inflames Chvankina’s ambitions with the opportunity to get acquainted with the high society and advises not to stand on ceremony with Milena and not let Zamir into the house. In the end, after Milena’s lengthy and inconclusive persuasion, to marry Count Verholet Chvankin orders her to obey. Milena remains inconsolable.
With a crowd of footmen, walkers and hidus, Verkholet appears, who plays an extreme degree of employment with important official papers, which he gives to Polist allegedly for further processing, and is interested in the fate of his letters to the kings. Hypnotized by what she saw, Chvankin asks him to expedite the planned wedding, which he graciously agrees.
A simple-minded person reports the appearance of a clerk from a merchant demanding payment of past due bills. Verkholet in conversation with Chvankina turns the matter so that the merchant owes him, supposedly the creditor of Verkholet owes Chvankina a significant amount. Using this circumstance, the Polist takes the clerk aside and, telling him about the marriage of Verkholet and Milena, persuades him to set off Verkholet’s debt at the expense of the money that the merchant owes to Chvankina. He agrees, everyone agrees on today's wedding. The sheetman describes the Count village of Chvankina, comparing it with the size of the towns of Torzhok and Tver. She is finally amazed and determined to organize the planned wedding. The policeman promises one hundred souls to the peasants Marina, if Chvankina will give her to marry him. Having accepted the offer, she, in turn, promises five thousand rubles of dowry for Marina. Verkholet is jealously asking Chwankin about Milena's beloved - Zamira. Chvankina vigorously denies Milena’s love for Zamir, attributing this to rumors and writing off everything to the evil influence of the novels. Verkholet, referring to the need to communicate with his former "brides", leaves.
Marina tells Polist about the arrival of Zamir and about her plan: to play the scene of treason in Milena's dress. The rally succeeds, the false "Milena" in a conversation with Polist in front of Zamir's eyes confesses his love for Verkholot. With curses and threats of revenge, Zamir retires to meet with his father, an adviser from the governorship of Cheston.
Father reassures Zamir and advises him to forget Milena. When meeting with Chvankina, Cheston finds out the reason for the refusal to his son. Chvankina asks Cheston at a meeting with the Count not to confess to kinship with Zamir, since she fears his anger. Having entered into a conversation with Verkholyot, Cheston learns from the fact that he supposedly owes Verkholot his rank as a college adviser and that Verkholot knows Cheston very well when he sought the rank at his reception. Chvankin whispers asks Cheston not to open his incognito. Verkholeto begins to describe the portrait of Cheston and comes to such abusive expressions that Cheston opens. Verkholet, not at all embarrassed by a clear lie, threatens him with great trouble at court.
Left alone, Cheston decides to get to know Verholet closer, in which he suspects a liar. An unexpected meeting with his long-time acquaintance Prostudum strengthens his suspicions, since the senatorialism promised to Prodogum is practically impossible.
In a conversation with Milena, Verholet finds out, to his own chagrin, that Milena loves not him, but Zamira, and that he promises to achieve his goal anyway.
Zamir in a conversation with Verkholyot, who offers him a position and money, challenges him to a duel. The frightened Polist is unsuccessfully trying to slip away, and Verkholet begins to act in a tried and tested way - a lie. Together with Polist, he paints his imaginary feats of arms, but this does not produce the desired action on Zamir - he draws his sword and is ready to fight. The dodgy Polist invents an excuse to avoid a duel, reminding Verholet about the need for him to immediately be at court, and saves himself with cries for help. Appearing people stop the scandal, but Zamir promises to wait for Verkholet at the exit.
Having met with Milena, Zamir, in mutual reproaches with her, finally finds out the deception with Milena's dress. The called to account Marina confirms the deception. Meeting with Prostodum further affirms Cheston in Verkholet’s deceit, he entrusts Prododum with a certificate of senatorial status and is going to open his eyes to Chvankina’s deceit.
The clouds over Verkholet and Polist are gathering. Cheston calls Chvankin and asks for evidence that Verkholet is not a count, and Polist is not a nobleman. Chvankin refuses to believe Cheston, Prostodum demands his certificate, which, according to Cheston, has been sent to the government. Considering this as evidence of his accomplished senatorialism, Prostodum no longer hides the fact that Verkholet is his nephew. Marina understands that she was fooled by the nobility of Polist. To the trouble of Verkholet, a tailor appears, who talks about his long-standing debt and denies his claims about the rank of logger.
The Verkholet appeared, who talks about his visit to the courtyard, to which the tailor assures that he saw Verkholet, but not at the court, but in a nearby tavern. The clerk who came up soon made a calculation with Chvankina minus the debts of Verkhelet, which made her even more perplexed. To complete the misfortune, Cheston, who has been silent so far, has been calling the dean for justice.
The Dean reveals the decision of the council to bring Verkholet to court for the appropriation of the count title and the distribution of illegal papers. The shamed Chvankin agrees to the marriage of his daughter and Zamir. And Marina concludes the action with the phrase: “It’s better not to get into our sled”.
