On Official Business Summary

Dr. Starchenko and the Coroner Lyzhin travel to the Zemstvo, or councilor's office in the investigation of a dead person. The death was suspected suicide but there was reason to think it may have been homicide. Lyzhin stays the night in the same room as the corpse. Lyzhin is attended to by the beadle, Loshadin. Starchenko had left earlier to stay with a neighbor but later returns for Lyzhin. The neighbor, von Taunitz, has four beautiful daughters and a houseful of music and gaiety. A blizzard causes Starchenko and Lyzhin to stay an extra night, but they finally head out after that. The beadle Loshadin was anxious for the doctor and coroner to return so that the matter about the dead man can be resolved. Lyzhin realizes that Loshadin is one of those people who are connected to everyone...