The Mechanical Monkey's Trail

In Tatyar, when the weather is good and there are no crimes, Colonel von Spinne receives a strange offer from the factory owner Protasov—the first Tatar millionaire. Protasov claims that strange things are happening in his house: a mechanical toy in the shape of a monkey that can walk and talk crawls out of the cupboard on its own and roams around the house. Protasov is afraid this toy might harm someone.

Foma Fomich agrees to the offer and decides to spend a few days at Protasov’s to разобраться in the matter.