Summary

The sculptor lives as a hermit in the country, drinking vodka with a local cheerful drunkard and "sealing plaster piglets" for his wife, who sells these products on the Old Arbat. A friend sends him a rubber woman from Italy who miraculously assumes the appearance of a living woman. He buys outfits for the "doll", paints portraits of her, and life becomes joyful for him. Happiness, however, was broken by the drunkard who stole a doll with dirty intentions.