And they retired to rest.
So far so good; but suddenly the people began to get agitated. The nobleman noticed this and asked:
"Egorka, why are the people restless?"
The latter looked pleased as he reported:
"The people want to live like human beings."
"Well, who taught them that? I did. For fifty years I and my ancestors have fostered in them the idea that it was time for them to live like human beings; haven't we?"
He began to get excited and pressed Egorka eagerly.
"Find me facts from history about the agrarian movement in Europe. Texts from the Gospels about equality, and from the history of civilisation about the origin of property. Be quick about it."
Egorka was pleased. He perspired freely as he hurried hither and thither. He tore all the leaves out of the books, so that only the bindings were left. He carried big bundles of all kinds of convincing proofs to the nobleman, who still kept urging him on.
"Stick to it! When we have a constitution I will make you editor of a large Liberal paper."