"The Times of the Miloradovich, Davydov, Pushkin" ... In the provincial city of K. held a congress of landowners and noble elections.

A young hussar officer, Count Turbin, comes to the best hotel in the city. There are no available rooms; "Retired cavalryman" Zavalshevsky offers the count to stay in his room, lends Turbine money. Actually, Zavalshevsky never served in the cavalry, but there was a time when he wanted to go there. And now he himself sincerely believed in his cavalry past. Zavalshevsky is glad of the opportunity to talk with Turbin, who is known everywhere as the "true hussar."

From Moscow goes to his regiment Ulansky Cornet Ilyin, "a young cheerful boy." He is forced to stay in the city of K. Without any malicious intent, Zavalshevsky introduces him to the player Lukhnov. By the time of the arrival of the Turbine, Ilyin had been playing for four nights and was losing part of the state money that was with him.

Cornet wakes up at six in the evening. Lukhnov, other players, as well as Zavalshevsky and Turbin come to his room. The count observes the game without participating in it. He warns Ilyin that Lukhnov is a sharpie. But the cornet does not heed his warnings. Turbin and Zavalshevsky leave for the ball to the leader of the nobility.

At the ball, Zavalshevsky introduces Turbine to his sister, Anna Fedorovna Zaytsova, a young widow. Turbine is caring for her. The widow is fascinated by the count, and her former admirer is so annoyed that she even makes a pathetic attempt to quarrel with Turbin.

The count, having made his way to Anna Fedorovna’s carriage, is waiting for her there. A young woman gets into the carriage; seeing the Turbine, she is not afraid and not angry ...

After the ball, many go to a gypsy party. Gulba is already coming to an end, when Earl Turbin arrives. The fun flares up again. The count dances, drinks a lot, scoffs at the innkeeper, who as early as morning asks everyone to disperse. At dawn, Turbine returns to the hotel. He must now leave the city.

Cornet Ilyin, meanwhile, lost all of the government money. The count, seeing the despair of the cornet, promises to help him out. Turbin takes money by force from the sharpie Lukhnov and returns it to Ilyin.

The whole company, who drank this night, goes to accompany Turbine to the outpost: on triples, with gypsies, with songs. Outposts all say goodbye. Having already left the city, Turbin recalls Anna Fedorovna and tells the coachman to turn back. He finds the widow still sleeping. After kissing her, Count Turbin leaves forever K.

Twenty years pass by. 1848 Count Fyodor Turbin was killed in a duel long ago. His son is twenty-three years old. The young count is similar to his father only in appearance. "Love for decency and comforts of life", "a practical look at things" - its main qualities.

The hussar squadron, commanded by a young Turbin, spends the night in Morozovka, the village of Anna Fedorovna Zaytsova. Anna Fedorovna is very old. Together with her live her brother - the "cavalryman" and daughter Lisa, a girl innocent, cheerful and sincere. Lisa is twenty two years old.

Officers - Count Turbin and Cornet Polozov - stop in the village hut. Anna Fedorovna sends to ask if they need anything. The count asks for a "cleaner room"; then Anna Fedorovna should be invited to spend the night in her house. The count willingly agrees, but the Cornet is embarrassed: he is ashamed to disturb the owners. Polozov is a timid, shy young man. He is heavily influenced by the turbine.

Anna Fyodorovna is thrilled to meet with the son of Count Fyodor Turbin. She invites guests to spend the evening with the hosts. Everyone sits down to play the preference, and the count beats the poor old woman for an amount that she thinks is quite significant. Anna Fedorovna is annoyed, but the count is not a bit smashed.

Cornet is amazed at the beauty of Lisa, but can not begin a conversation with her. The turbine is easily able to do this. The girl innocently tells in which room she sleeps. Count Turbin understands these words as an invitation to a date.

Night. Lisa falls asleep, sitting at the open window of Turbines from the garden, watching her and after long doubts decides to come. His touch wakes the girl. She runs away in horror. The count returns to his room and tells Cornet Polozov about this adventure, adding that the young lady herself made an appointment with him. But Lisa seems to be a “pure, beautiful creature” to Cornet. Outraged Polozov calls the Turbine a scoundrel.

The next morning, the officers leave, not saying goodbye to the owners and not talking to each other. Things never get to a duel.