“You know, Márya, today Ilyá Mitrofánych” (this was his overseer) “came back from the Tambóv estate and told me they are already offering eighty thousand rubles for the forest.”

And with an eager face Nikoláy began to speak of the possibility of repurchasing Otrádnoe before long, and added: “Another ten years of life and I shall leave the children⁠ ⁠… in an excellent position.”