such as trunks, foot-wear,
harnesses, straps and so forth."

"And of what per cent, are you dreaming?"

"I am not dreaming, I am calculating with all the exactness possible
under conditions in Russia," said Smolin, impressively. "The
manufacturer should be as strictly practical as the mechanic who is
creating a machine. The friction of the tiniest screw must be taken into
consideration, if you wish to do a serious thing seriously. I can let
you read a little note which I have drawn up, based upon my personal
study of cattle-breeding and of the consumption of meat in Russia."

"How's that!" laughed Mayakin. "Bring me that note, it's interesting!
It seems you did not spend your time for nothing in Western Europe. And
now, let's eat something, after the Russian fashion."

"How are you passing the time, Lubov Yakovlevna?" asked Smolin, arming
himself with knife and fork.

"She is rather lonesome here with me," replied Mayakin for his daughter.
"My housekeeper, all the household is on her shoulders, so she has no
time to amuse herself."

"And no place, I must add," said Lubov. "I am not fond of the balls and
entertainments given by the merchants."

"And the theatre?" asked Smolin.

"I seldom go there. I have no one to go with."

"The theatre!" exclaimed the old man. "Tell me, pray, why has it become
the fashion then to represent the merchant as a savage idiot? It is very
amusing, but it is incomprehensible, because it is false! Am I a fool,
if I am master in the City Council, master in commerce, and also owner
of that same theatre? You look at the merchant on the stage and
you see--he isn't life-life! Of course, when they present something
historical, such as: 'Life for the Czar,' with song and dance, or
'Hamlet,' 'The Sorceress,' or 'Vasilisa,' truthful reproduction is not
required, because they're matters of the past and don't concern us.
Whether true or not, it matters little so long as they're good, but
when you represent modern times, then don't lie! And show the man as he
really is."

Smolin listened to the old man's words with a covetous smile on his
lips, and cast at Lubov glances which seemed to invite her to refute her
father. Somewhat embarrassed, she said:

"And yet, papa, the majority of the merchant class is uneducated and
savage."

"Yes," remarked Smolin with regret, nodding his head affirmatively,
"that is the sad truth."

"Take Foma, for instance," went on the girl.

"Oh!" exclaimed Mayak