"That's correct," said the oven-builder. "Let the owner of the better land pay more."
"What a head that Jhorga had on him!" said the portly old peasant with the curls.
"If only the payments were reasonable," said the tall peasant, evidently understanding what it was leading to.
"The payments should be such that it would be neither too cheap nor too dear. If too dear, it would be unprofitable; if too cheap, people would begin to deal in land. This is the arrangement I would like you to make."
Voices of approval showed that the peasants understood him perfectly.
"What a head!" repeated the broad-shouldered peasant with the curls, meaning "Jhorga."
"And what if I should choose to take land?" said the clerk, smiling.
"If there is an unoccupied section, take and cultivate it," said Nekhludoff.
"What do you want land for? You are not hungering without land," said the old man with the smiling eyes.
Here the conference ended.