Lieutenant Kijé

Поручик Киже

Also known as Poruchik Kizhe, The Czar Wants to Sleep, O Tenente Kijé, Lieutenant Kije

A copying error by a military scribe turns the Russian words "the lieutenants, however" into what looks like "lieutenant Kijé". The Tsar reads the error, and wants to meet this (non-existent) lieutenant. The courtiers, eager to avoid the wrath of the temperamental Tsar, create a Kijé to serve as their royal scapegoat.