Chapter VII Summary

Golyadkin walks into his house with his guest. He wonders what Petrushka will think, but Petrushka shows little surprise. Golyadkin's guest is exceptionally nervous and fumbles around. When Golyadkin drops his hat, his guest springs forward, picks it up and dusts it off.

The two men enjoy a good supper before retiring to the lounge. Here Golyadkin's visitor tells Golyadkin they share the same name as well as looks. For this reason he has come to appeal to his generosity and ask for protection. At this point Petrushka brings in some rum and over four hours Golyadkin's guest tells his life story. He came to St. Petersburg after inheriting money from his aunt. In St. Petersburg, finding no work, he lived in poverty, eating only a crust of bread a day. Fortunately, a Christian took him in and helped him get...