小說描寫一個投機鑽營的騙子（吝嗇鬼）——假裝成六等文官的乞乞科夫買賣死魂靈（俄國的地主們將他們的農奴叫做"魂靈"）的故事。乞乞科夫來到某市先用一個多星期的時間打通了上至省長下至建築技師的大小官員的關係，而後去市郊向地主們收買已經死去但尚未註銷戶口的農奴，準備把他們當做活的農奴抵押給監管委員會，騙取大筆押金。他走訪了一個又一個地主，經過激烈的討價還價，買到一大批死魂靈，當他高高興興地憑著早已打通的關係迅速辦好了法定的買賣手續後，其罪惡勾當被人揭穿，檢察官竟被謠傳嚇死，乞乞科夫只好匆忙逃走。
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