"The Officer" is a short story by Eliza Orzeszkowa that was published in 1882. It tells the story of a young officer who becomes involved in a terrible tragedy and must commit a crime to preserve his honor and avoid shame. The crime leads him into a crisis of conscience as he struggles to reconcile his sense of justice with the necessity of survival. The story explores the complexity of moral dilemmas that arise as the protagonist fights for justice and survival.