Gambling, alcohol and flirtations consummated in a beautiful countryside hold obvious attractions for Laevsky. Laevsky and his lover Nadyezhda are lovers. They came to flee Nadyezhda’s husband and to live together in their own home. Instead, they remain in rented rooms. Laevsky drinks, gambles, and blankly performs the few tasks necessary in his government job. He spends much of his time figuring out how to get away from Nadyezhda, whom he has grown to hate. Nadyezhda herself is bored and has affairs. Von Koren, another character in the story, is an arrogant man of science. He believes that creatures like Laevsky who do no good should be killed, because natural selection ought to guide ethical decisions. He tries to act out his plan when the two duel.

The Bet and Other Stories by Anton Chekhov. This volume of Chekhov short stories offers a unique selection each touching upon fundamentally important subjects such as the purpose and value of life, what it takes to be human, eternal life and higher objectives of human life, happiness, guilt and romance. Through the eyes of Chekhov's characters we see Chekhov's own views on life. These profound wisdoms shine so bright that we can consider them a guiding star of life itself. In The Bet we meet a young man who trades fifteen years of his life for two million. He leaves his notes and shares with us his thoughts and conclusions of this bet. In the Death of a Government Clerk we discover how words and misunderstanding can kill, literally.

The Witch and other Stories by Anton Chekhov. Anton Checkhov's The Witch and other stories is one of his many collection of short stories. Included in this book are fifteen of Chekhov's; The Witch, Peasant Wives, The Post, The New Villa, Dreams, The Pipe, Agafya, At Christmas Time, Gusev, The Student, In the Ravine, The Huntsman, Happiness, A Malefactor, Peasants. Through the monotonous roar of the storm he caught a scarcely audible thin and jingling monotone like the shrill note of a gnat when it wants to settle on one's cheek and is angry at being prevented.