“Because there is too much of the bureaucrat about them.”
“Bureaucrat?” Kollomietzev laughed maliciously. “I don’t think you quite realise what you’re saying, Mr. Solomin.”
Solomin continued smiling.
“What makes you think so, Mr. Kolomentzev?” (Kollomietzev shuddered at hearing his name thus mutilated.) “I assure you that I always realise what I am saying.”
“Then please explain what you meant just now!”
“With pleasure. I think that every bureaucrat is an outsider and was always such. The nobility have now become ‘outsiders.’”
Kollomietzev laughed louder than ever.
“But, my dear sir, I really don’t understand what you mean!”
“So much the worse for you. Perhaps you will if you try hard enough.”
“Sir!”