One character copies a love letter word for word from a German novel, and that character is inspired by a story involving Count St-Germain and Chaplitsky related at a party by Tomsky.  
Epigrams opening the chapters in this work include one which states "My angel, you write me four-page-long letters faster than I can read them" and another which reads "It appears that the gentleman is decidedly in favor of servant girls" with the reply "What would you have me do, Madam?  They are fresher."  One character copies a love letter word for word from a German novel, and that character is inspired by a story involving Count St-Germain and Chaplitsky related at a party by Tomsky.  The protagonist arranges a meeting with his lover late at night in order to meet with her mistress, whom he accidentally kills by threatening her with a pistol.  The protagonist goes mad after losing a three-day standoff with Chekalinsky which concludes when he envisions the old Countess in the titular object.  FTP, name this short story following Hermann's brief run with gambling, a work of Alexander Pushkin.
Epigrams opening the chapters in this work include one which states "My angel, you write me four-page-long letters faster than I can read them" and another which reads "It appears that the gentleman is decidedly in favor of servant girls" with the reply "What would you have me do, Madam?  
The Queen of Spades or Pikavaya Dama