This painting was one of the first artworks bought by P.M.Tretyakov for his collection. Shilder continues Fedotova's traditions, addressing a temptation theme of a "fair" poverty: matchmaker offers the girl living with sick mother, an expensive bracelet in exchange for "favor" to the man whose face is barely visible in a doorway. Edifying pathos of the picture reveals simple allegory - the cat trapping the mouse.