The court adviser Podkolesin, lying on the couch with a pipe and thinking that it would not hurt to get married, calls on the servant of Stepan, whom he asks about whether the matchmaker came in and about visiting the tailor, about the quality of the cloth and did the tailor ask why the gentleman in the coat was such a fine cloth and if the gentleman wants to marry. Moving on to Vax and discussing it in great detail, Podkolesin laments that marriage is such a troublesome thing. The matchmaker Fekla Ivanovna appears and talks about the bride Agafya Tikhonovna, the merchant’s daughter, her appearance (“like a refined product!”), Her unwillingness to marry a merchant, but only a nobleman (“such a great man”). Satisfied Podkolesin tells the matchmaker to come the day after tomorrow (“I will lie down, but you will tell”), she reproaches him for being lazy and says that he will soon be unsuitable for marriage. His friend Kochkarev runs in, scolds Thekla because she married him, but, realizing that Podkolesin also thinks to marry, he takes a lively part in this. After asking the matchmaker where the bride lives, he dispatches Thekla, intending to marry Podkolesin himself. He paints the charms of family life, which was still not certain to a friend, and he was already convincing him, but Podkolesin again thinks about the strange thing that “everything was unmarried, and now suddenly married.” Kochkarev explains that now Podkolesin is simply a log and does not matter, otherwise there will be “sort of small little canals” around him, and everyone looks like him. Already quite prepared to go, Podkolesin says that it is better tomorrow. Kochkarev takes him away with abuse.

Agafya Tikhonovna with her aunt, Arina Panteleimonova, guesses on the cards, she remembers the late father Agafya, his greatness and solidity, and thereby tries to draw the attention of her niece to the merchant "on the cloth line" Alexei Dmitrievich Starikov. But Agafia will be stubborn: he is both a merchant and his beard is growing, and the nobleman is always better. Thekla arrives, complains about the troubles of his work: everything went out, according to the chancery, was exhausted, but six people were found by the suitors. She describes the suitors, but the disgruntled aunt quarrels with Thekla about who is better - a merchant or a nobleman. The doorbell is ringing. In terrible confusion, everyone runs away, Dunyasha runs to open. The incoming Ivan Pavlovich Ovary, the executor, re-reads the dowry painting and compares it with what is available. Appears Nikanor Ivanovich Anuchkin, slender and "great", looking in the bride for knowledge of the French language. Mutually hiding the true reason for their appearance, both grooms expect further. Comes Baltazar Baltazarovich Zhevakin, a retired lieutenant of the maritime service, from the threshold commemorates Sicily, which forms a common conversation. Anuchkin is interested in the formation of Sicilian women and is shocked by the statement of Zhevakin that all polls, including men, speak French. The fried egg is curious about the complexion of the men there and their habits. Discussions about the oddities of some families are interrupted by the appearance of Kochkarev and Podkolesin. Kochkarev, who wants to immediately appreciate the bride, falls to the keyhole, causing Thekla's horror.

The bride, accompanied by her aunt, leaves, the grooms introduce themselves, Kochkarev is recommended by a relative of a somewhat hazy nature, and Podkolesina is almost the manager of the department. Starikov also appears. The general conversation about the weather, brought down by the direct question of Fried Eggs about what service Agafya Tikhonovna would like to see her husband, is interrupted by the embarrassed flight of the bride. Grooms, intending to come “in the evening for a cup of tea” and discussing whether the bride’s nose is large, diverge. Podkolesin, having decided that her nose is too big, and she hardly knows French, says a friend that he does not like the bride. Kochkarev easily convinces him of the incomparable virtues of the bride and, taking the word that Podkolesin will not give up, it is taken to convince the rest of the grooms.

Agafya Tikhonovna cannot decide which of her suitors to choose (“If I had to put Nikanor Ivanovich’s lips to Ivan Kuzmich’s nose ...”), and wants to cast lots. Kochkarev appears, convincing to take Podkolesin, and resolutely only him, because he is a miracle man, and the rest are all rubbish. Having explained how to refuse to suit the suitors (saying that he was not yet married, or simply: go away, fools), Kochkarev runs away for Podkolesin. Scrambled eggs come, demanding a direct answer: yes or no. Zhevakin and Anuchkin are next. The bewildered Agafya Tikhonovna blurts out “get out” and, frightened by the sight of the Fried Eggs (“Wow, he’ll kill! ..”), he runs away. Kochkarev enters, leaving Podkolesin in the hall to straighten the stepladder, explains to the taken aback grooms that the bride is a fool, there is almost no dowry behind her, and in French she is not a sack. Grooms bake Thekla and leave, leaving Zhevakin, who did not hesitate to marry. Kochkarev also sends him, promising his participation and undoubted good luck in the matchmaking. To the embarrassed bride, Kochkarev certifies Zhevakin with a fool and a drunkard. Zhevakin eavesdropped and amazed at the strange behavior of his intercessor. Agafya Tikhonovna does not want to talk to him, multiplying his perplexity: the seventeenth bride refuses, and why?

Kochkarev brings Podkolesin and forces him, left alone with the bride, to open her heart. The conversation about the pleasures of riding in a boat, the desirability of a good summer and the proximity of the Catherine’s walk of Festivities ends in nothing: Podkolesin goes off. However, he was returned by Kochkarev, who had already ordered dinner, conspired to go to church in an hour, and begging his friend to marry without delay. But Podkolesin leaves. Having awarded a friend with many unflattering nicknames, Kochkarev hurries to get him back. Agafya Tikhonovna, in the thought that she had not spent twenty-seven years in girls, expects the groom. Podkolesin, who was kicked into the room, cannot get down to business, and finally Kochkarev himself asks for the hands of Agafya Tikhonovna for him. Everything is arranged, and the bride hurries to get dressed. Podkolesin, who was already pleased and grateful, was left alone, since Kochkarev didn’t take a look to see if the table was ready (Podkolesin’s hat, however, he prudently tidies it up) and wonders if he was still aware of the meaning of life. He is surprised that many people live in such blindness, and if he had been sovereign, he would have ordered everyone to get married. The thought of the irreparable nature of what will happen now is somewhat embarrassing, and then frightens him in earnest. He decides to run, even if through the window, if it is impossible at the door, even without a hat, if he is not there, he jumps out the window and drives off in a cab.

Agafya Tikhonovna, Fekla, Arina Panteleimonovna and Kochkarev, appearing one after another, in bewilderment, something is allowed by the called up Dunyashka, who saw the whole passage. Arina Panteleimonovna showers abuse at Kochkarev (“Yes, after that you are a scoundrel, if you are an honest man!”), He runs away for the groom, but Thekla regards the matter as missing: “If the bridegroom darted out the window - then, it’s just my respect!”