In a small village on the border of the Oryol and Kursk provinces, the estate of Ivan Efremovich Prostakov, who lives with his wife and daughters, Katerina and Elizaveta, is spread. It is here that the author introduces us to the main character. Prince Gavrilo Simonovich Chistyakov is in a state of the most miserable and is accepted into the house only out of mercy. But soon he won the love of the whole family and for fun, as well as edification tells the instructive story of his life.

Having only a field and a garden after the death of his father, he, out of his negligence, allowed the first to overgrow and trampled on the second. He married Princess Feklush, and the three of them now (with their newborn son Nikander) did not have a piece of bread, and none of the princes of their native Falaleevka wanted to help them. An unexpected benefactor was the innkeeper Yanka, who at first fed the family. But soon a visiting merchant stopped at their hut, “seduced” by the son of the prince and bought several old books at a fabulously high price, which ensured the continued existence of the family. Over time, the economy improved, the field again yielded crops, nothing disturbed the peaceful happiness of the prince. Everything suddenly changed with the escape of Princess Feklushi, who set off "to see <...> the great light." The prince found solace only in little Nikandra and decided to live for his son, but he was in for a new misfortune: once, returning home, he discovered that his son had been abducted. After spending the rest of the day searching and desperate to find a son, he left the village.

While Gavrilo Simonovich told this very sad story, the solitude of the Prostakovs was broken by two more strangers. One of them, the prince (“another prince!”) Svetlozarov, appeared no less unexpectedly than before Chistyakov, and soon won the favor of the whole family, and especially Katerina. Prince Gavrilo Simonovich was embarrassed by the name of the new prince and wished not to reveal his own, but to be represented by a distant relative, Krakalov. The close friendship of Prince Svetlozarov and Katerina alarms him, and he shares doubts with his amiable friend Prostakov. Upon Svetlozarov’s departure for Christmas, Katerina is found a letter in which, however, the prince promises to ask for his hands and nothing more.

Meanwhile, the second stranger is caressed no less. This is a young painter named Nikander, brought by Prostakov from the city to paint portraits of family members and give lessons to daughters. Everyone was happy to discover his talent, and Elizabeth - to know in him the subject of his love, three years expelled from the guesthouse for an innocent kiss, imprinted on it. For a while, nothing prevents the happiness of young people, but ... in the absence of her husband, Mrs. Prostakova finds out about everything. Nikander was awarded two slaps in the face and in disgrace was expelled, escorted and parted only by Prince Gavrila Simonovich. Having returned from the city, Prostakov orders secretly to find Nikander and, having provided him with a sufficient amount of money and a letter to the Oryol merchant Prichudin, send him to Orel. Caring for the young man is entrusted to a lot of friends of Prince Chistyakov, who became friends with him. The prince asks Nikander to tell the story of his life.

The young man did not know his full name and origin. He was the same age as the prince’s missing son, and for a moment hope flickers with Gavrila Simonovich. But the widow who brought up Nikander in the early years, considered him the late son of some noble lord. Then there was Madame Delawen's boarding house, from which the prince already knew. So Nikander was on the street for the first time. His abilities for painting provided him with the place of a student at the artist. But soon his benefactor died, and, becoming the subject of contention of his wife and daughter, he was forced to flee in the middle of the night. By chance, he witnessed the robbery abduction of the merchant's daughter Natalia. As a noble and brave man, he could not help but intervene and saved the girl. Grateful parents brought him into the house and were ready to give their daughter for him, but since his heart was not free and the image of Elizabeth accompanied him everywhere, he had to leave this house and went to secretaries to his learned husband Tris-megalos. Excessive passion for the Slavic language and metaphysics made it the subject of ridicule of others. Even more dramatic was his affection for Anisie, the niece of Gorlani’s neighbor. Upon learning of the infidelity of his subject, he was shocked and wanted to part with his life, calling for help his last love - punch. But one day a clerk came in with a crowd of relatives, and Tris Megalos was taken to a madhouse, and poor Nikander was again left without a livelihood, and in this disastrous state he came to the Prostakovs. Further to the prince was known.

Soon after arriving in Oryol, Nikandra is assigned to the service. After some time, a letter arrives from Prostakov announcing that Prince Svetlozarov made an offer to Katerina. Meanwhile, one of the neighbors is wooing for Elizabeth, elderly, but well-to-do, she doesn’t want to hear about it. In conclusion, Prostakov asks for advice from the prince.

In a response letter, Prince Chistyakov advises not to rush to both weddings, saying that Prince Svetlozarov is not who he claims to be, i.e. neither the prince nor Svetlozarov, and promises to explain everything in the future. Following the letter, the prince himself arrives. In his presence, a conversation begins, which Prostakov himself did not dare to start. Under the name of Prince Chistyakov, Svetlozarov is covered with mortal pallor. “I hid in the house of robbers, tramps and impostors!” - With these words, Prince Svetlozarov leaves the Prostakov family, leaving them in confusion. Prince Chistyakov continues his story.

He went to Moscow and walked for some time, stopping in different villages. But one of these nights was strangely interrupted. New guests came - Prince Svetlozarov with his wife. In Princess Svetlozarova, the amazed prince recognized Princess Fekla Sidorovna, but was immediately taken out of the gate. He found a fellow traveler, the son of a Fatezh priest, who had fled from a cruel mean father with his money. Soon they were overtaken by a cart in which Sylvester saw his Fatezhsky persecutors and disappeared, and not so prudent prince was instead taken to Fatezh, where he experienced the power of justice: they recognized the error, but deprived him of all his property.

The fascinating story of Gavrila Simonovich is interrupted: one fine evening the prince goes for a walk in the field and does not return by night. The next day, a police officer with a team arrives at the house and reports that the prince is a terrible robber.

Meanwhile, in Orel, a calm, measured life flows in the house of the merchant Prikudin. Nicander moves in the service, and the merchant’s affairs are not so bad. Suddenly, Mr. Krakalov, to say Chistyakov (for here he was known by that name), is in no better condition than when the Prostakovs first appeared. According to him, he was abducted by a gang of Svetlozarov. Having rested, he was going to go to the Prostakovs in order to protect them from the new tricks of the villain. But on the very day of departure, Nikander receives a letter from Pro-Stakov stating all that happened and a request, in case the prince is discovered, to inform the police. Nicander in confusion passes the letter to the prince. Poor Gavrilo Simonovich is shocked by the incredulity and frivolity of a friend. He decides to open the story and his, albeit slandered, name of Fad, which leads to unexpected consequences. It turns out that it was Prichudin who had once abducted the son of the prince, Nikander. The ancestors of Prichudin belonged to the same Chistyakov family. Being rich and without male heirs, he decided to “make a participant in his wealth” a poor relative and kidnapped him. Tears of joy are mixed with the repentant tears of the old man when it turns out that it is their Nikander who is nevertheless the son of Prince Chistyakov. When the enthusiasm subsided, Prichudin already asked the prince to tell about his adventures, and Gavrilo Simonovich in the evening came to the place where we stopped.

After a series of incidents, the prince finally reached Moscow. For some time he worked as a clerk in a wine cellar, but then he went to the metaphysician Bibarius as a student, where at the end of a three-year course he received a certificate of success in science. With the assistance of a scientist, he got a secretary place from a noble nobleman, but in this field he did not succeed because of excessive zeal: in order to serve the master, he convicted his wife of infidelity and was expelled. A happy accident led him to the widow of General Bialova, where he was waiting for the post of secretary, a good salary and ... the love of a stranger who was hiding her face. Encouraged, "like Apuley's Psyche," by curiosity, the prince decided to open his beloved's face and - found his general.

He was forced to leave the house, rented an apartment and became addicted to the theater. This addiction was the reason for his further adventures, because once in the actress Fiona arrived from St. Petersburg he recognized his wife, Fekla Sidorovna. A thirst for revenge possessed him. In the tavern, he met two young people. One of them turned out to be Sylvester, son of the priest Auxentius. The other is none other than the seducer of Feklushi, Prince Svetlozarov (his real name, however, was Golovorez, which he admits, not knowing who is in front of him). Seeing Feklusha "at the Theater", he again persuaded her to run away and invited Chistyakov to be his assistants. Here it is, the long-awaited revenge. Having learned all the details, the prince went to Prince Latron and revealed to him a conspiracy. The criminals were seized and subjected to execution, but imprisonment was also the reward of the prince. Having run away, he again found himself in a deplorable state when he was picked up by Mr. Dobroslavov. His new position was to sort complaints and make inquiries, for Dobroslavov was not only a lover of charity, but strove to do it wisely in order to maintain virtue, but not to encourage vice. After serving a year, Chistyakov was honored to be admitted to the "society of philanthropists of light", and simply a Masonic lodge. The goal was all the same service to good. The prince had to secretly lead the wealthy, but stingy brothers, directing, albeit without their knowledge, their expenses in the righteous direction of charity. At secret meetings among the lovely nymphs who delighted the brothers, he again saw Princess Feklusha. This time their meeting was more friendly, and Feklusha even contributed to the prince in his love for the beautiful Licoris.

The story is interrupted by the departure of Prikudin, and then Nikandra, who, on behalf of the governor, finally exposes Prince Svetlozarov, having managed to do this just on the day of his wedding with Katerina. A family in sorrow, which is soon exacerbated by the death of Ivan Efremovich. Katerina gets married, and the Prostakovs move to the city, which Prince Gavrilo and Nikander learn with regret. Upon the return of Fancy, the prince continues the story.

Busted not without the help of the prince, the farmer Kuromov brought the police to the meeting. Justice did not favor the benefactors, but the prince managed to escape along with his beautiful Licoris. After some time, he received a letter from Feklushi. She was less fortunate, and she ended up in the hands of justice. But in the supreme judge she recognized Prince Latron, who had forgiven her, and at the same time her brother, whom she called the prince. His mercy extended further. He invites the prince to follow himself to Poland.

A lot of adventures awaited the prince along the way, but finally he got to Poland. Prince Latron gave him the place of a gatekeeper, but over time, using all his cunning, cruelty and resourcefulness, he became a secretary and achieved wealth. Many people were ruined by his efforts. Licoris is dead. Feklusha, confessing to the prince in a passion that flashed up again and was refused, retired to the monastery. And the power and excesses of the prince all multiplied. But they came to an end. After the death of Prince Latron, Gavrilo Simonovich goes to prison, and then again appears on the road.

This time, fate brought him together with a man whose name is simply Ivan. His righteous life earned him universal respect. With such a companion, Prince Gavrilo moved on to his native land. In the monastery, on the way, he met a penitent wife. And a few months later I received news of her death.

In Falaleevka, he was expected to meet with Yanka, brought by the Falaleev princes and "gracious justice" to a miserable state. The prince managed to cure an old friend and temporarily delay his death. But then they set fire to the hut in which Gavrilo Simonovich and Yanka lived. Yanka, considering himself guilty, died of grief, and the prince again left his native village.

Meanwhile, Nikander becomes a participant in the events of almost romance. Once he happens to help a poor woman who did not want to give the name of the people to whom she, in turn, contributed. Intrigued, he and her father are watching her, and her voice reminds the prince of the voice of his last wife, whom he married under unusual circumstances: when he left Falaleevka, the prince was put into the carriage by an unknown lackey in a rich livery and taken to the estate where the owner, a young lady, invited him to marry herself. But immediately after the ceremony he was again changed into his former clothes and thrown into the forest. From the conversations of the servants, he realized that his new wife was the mistress of Prince Svetlozarov

The prince tells this story to Nikandr and Fancy, completing his biography. At the same time, it turns out that his wife is the runaway daughter of Prichudin Hope.

Nikander is looking for a stranger and, having got to the cemetery where they first met, again shows himself to be a knight. He again manages to prevent the abduction of the girl, who turns out to be Katerina, the sister of his Elizabeth. The next day, he accidentally meets Katerina’s husband, Firsov, in the forest and saves him from suicide. He learns about the cramped circumstances of the family. Nicander again sees his beloved Elizabeth, and now circumstances allow her to think about her. But Kharitin, the wife of Prince Gavrila, had already disappeared for a week.