The Chameleon (short story)

"The Chameleon" is a short story by Anton Chekhov published originally in the No. 36, 8 September 1884 issue of Oskolki magazine, subtitled "A Little Scene", signed A. Chekhonte. It was included into Chekhov's 1886 collection Motley Stories published in Saint Petersburg and reproduced unchanged in this book's 2–14 editions, in 1891–1899. It was included by Chekhov into Volume 2 of his Collected Works.

Synopsis

Khryukin, a drunkard, has had his finger snapped by a small dog. The policeman Ochyumelov's attitude to the affair and the dog's future destiny fluctuates depending upon the coming information as to who the owner of the culprit might be.