# The Vice-Governor's Visit and the Plot Against Trirodov explained — The Created Legend > Chapter companion for The Created Legend by Fyodor Sologub. ## What happens At a tense luncheon at the town school, the Doulebovs, Vice-Governor, and local officials discuss revolutionary ferment, the mysterious Trirodov, and the upcoming visit of the Marquis Teliatnikov. Doulebov schemes to close Trirodov's school by inviting the Vice-Governor to inspect it, while malicious gossip and fear of authority dominate the gathering. ## Themes in this chapter ### Class Conflict and Culture The dinner at the town school exposes the power dynamics between officials, instructors, and the revolutionary undercurrents, with Doulebov using his position to suppress Trirodov's progressive school. ### Revolution and Social Upheaval Revolutionary proclamations in the woods, arrests of young children, and rumors of an armed revolt highlight the growing unrest and the authorities' repressive response. ### Duality of Human Nature Doulebov's pleasant manners mask his scheming ambition; Poterin's fawning exterior hides his brutality; Trirodov is seen as both suspicious and kind. ## Character check-ins ### Doulebov Headmaster of National Schools, scheming to close Trirodov's school and curry favor with authorities; speaks in a thin voice and wipes his face like a cat. ### Zinaida Doulebov's wife, plump and shrewish, leads malicious gossip about Trirodov and examines classes in French and English. ### Trirodov Subject of slander and suspicion; accused of revolutionary activities, running a secret printing press, and corrupting children. ### Poterin Inspector of the town school, fawning and fearful, beats pupils and accepts bribes; trembles before the Doulebovs. ### Zherbenev Honorary overseer of the school, joins in maligning Trirodov and asserting his suspiciousness. ### Voronok Defends Trirodov briefly but is not heard; mentions a nine-year-old boy kept in confinement by police. ### Shabalov Inspector, arrives early to fawn on Zinaida Doulebova; speaks with quiet joy about birching. ### Kirsha Trirodov's son, acquainted with many boys in town, provides his father with information about schools and Doulebov's personality. ## Key lines > Revolutionary proclamations had appeared in all the woods of the neighbourhood. Large pieces of bark were cut off the trees and proclamations pasted on. It was impossible to remove these bills, which were overrun by a thin, transparent coating of resin. Revolutionary posters were glued onto tree bark in the woods, and a resin coating made them impossible to remove. _Illustrates the spread of revolutionary propaganda and the authorities' frustration._ > It was asserted that Trirodov and others were collecting money for an armed revolt. At this they looked significantly at Voronok. Rumors circulated that Trirodov and his associates were fundraising for an armed uprising, and everyone glanced meaningfully at Voronok. _Shows the suspicion and gossip targeting Trirodov._ > Doulebov adopted an attitude towards his subordinates consistent with this personal attitude. To those who acted respectfully towards him and his wife he gave his patronage and made efforts to improve their position. He defended them in unpleasant situations, though very cautiously, in order not to hurt his own position. Doulebov favored subordinates who showed respect to him and his wife, promoting them cautiously to avoid risking his own standing. _Reveals Doulebov's calculating and self-serving nature._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_created_legend_se/chapters/xxx - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_created_legend_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_created_legend_se/chapters