A foppish barber named Svyryd Petrovych Golohvastov finds himself penniless. Only a sudden and miracuous appearance of the necessary sum of money can save him from prison. A tempting option looms just under his nose in the form of the girl named Pronia. Yet, another promise that he had given to a poor girl Galya, complicates his way towards the beneficial marriage. Golokhvastov starts to court both girls at a time, but as the popular saying goes, the one who chases two hares, will catch none.