“Yes; from the gentry.”
Kollomietzev smiled condescendingly. “If you recollect you said the very same thing about factories that you’re now saying about the land.”
“And it’s quite true.”
“You will no doubt be very pleased about it!”
“Not at all. I’ve already told you that the people won’t be any the better off for the change.”
Kollomietzev raised his hand slightly. “What solicitude on the part of the people, imagine!”
“Vassily Fedotitch!” Sipiagin called out as loudly as he could, “they have brought you some beer! Voyons, Siméon!” he added in an undertone.
But Kollomietzev would not be suppressed.
“I see you haven’t a very high opinion of the merchant class,” he began again, turning to Solomin, “but they’ve sprung from the people.”
“So they have.”