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of Michael Angelo's 〃Moses；〃 and grey hair that curled round the
brown； bald forehead； put on his big cap； and； wrapping his coat
round him； got in behind the table and sat down； the rest
followed his example。 When all had taken their places Nekhludoff
sat down opposite them； and leaning on the table over the paper
on which he had drawn up his project； he began explaining it。
Whether it was that there were fewer present； or that he was
occupied with the business in hand and not with himself； anyhow；
this time Nekhludoff felt no confusion。 He involuntarily
addressed the broad…shouldered old man with white ringlets in his
grizzly beard； expecting approbation or objections from him。 But
Nekhludoff's conjecture was wrong。 The respectable…looking old
patriarch； though he nodded his handsome head approvingly or
shook it； and frowned when the others raised an objection；
evidently understood with great difficulty； and only when the
others repeated what Nekhludoff had said in their own words。 A
little； almost beardless old fellow； blind in one eye； who sat by
the side of the patriarch； and had a patched nankeen coat and old
boots on； and； as Nekhludoff found out later； was an
oven…builder； understood much better。 This man moved his brows
quickly； attending to Nekhludoff's words with an effort； and at
once repeated them in his own way。 An old； thick…set man with a
white beard and intelligent eyes understood as quickly； and took
every opportunity to put in an ironical joke； clearly wishing to
show off。 The ex…soldier seemed also to understand matters； but
got mixed； being used to senseless soldiers' talk。 A tall man
with a small beard； a long nose； and a bass voice； who wore
clean； home…made clothes and new bark…plaited shoes； seemed to be
the one most seriously interested。 This man spoke only when there
was need of it。 The two other old men； the same toothless one who
had shouted a distinct refusal at the meeting the day before to
every proposal of Nekhludoff's； and a tall； white lame old man
with a kind face； his thin legs tightly wrapped round with strips
of linen； said little； though they listened attentively。 First of
all Nekhludoff explained his views in regard to personal property
in land。 〃The land； according to my idea； can neither he bought
nor sold； because if it could be； he who has got the money could
buy it all； and exact anything he liked for the use of the land
from those who have none。〃
〃That's true；〃 said the long…nosed man； in a deep bass。
〃Just so；〃 said the ex…soldier。
〃A woman gathers a little grass for her cow； she's caught and
imprisoned；〃 said the white…bearded old man。
〃Our own land is five versts away； and as to renting any it's
impossible； the price is raised so high that it won't pay；〃 added
the cross； toothless old man。 〃They twist us into ropes； worse
than during serfdom。〃
〃I think as you do； and I count it a sin to possess land； so I
wish to give it away；〃 said Nekhludoff。
〃Well； that's a good thing；〃 said the old man； with curls like
Angelo's 〃Moses；〃 evidently thinking that Nekhludoff meant to let
the land。
〃I have come here because I no longer wish to possess any land；
and now we must consider the best way of dividing it。〃
〃Just give it to the peasants； that's all；〃 said the cross；
toothless old man。
Nekhludoff was abashed for a moment； feeling a suspicion of his
not being honest in these words； but he instantly recovered； and
made use of the remark； in order to express what was in his mind；
in reply。
〃I should be glad to give it them；〃 he said； 〃but to whom； and
how？ To which of the peasants？ Why； to your commune； and not to
that of Deminsk。〃 （That was the name of a neighbouring village
with very little land。） All were silent。 Then the ex…soldier
said； 〃Just so。〃
〃Now； then； tell me how would you divide the land among the
peasants if you had to do it？〃 said Nekhludoff。
〃We should divide it up equally； so much for every man；〃 said the
oven…builder； quickly raising and lowering his brows。
〃How else？ Of course； so much per man；〃 said the good natured
lame man with the white strips of linen round his legs。
Every one confirmed this statement； considering it satisfactory。
〃So much per man？ Then are the servants attached to the house
also to have a share？〃 Nekhludoff asked。
〃Oh； no；〃 said the ex…soldier； trying to appear bold and merry。
But the tall； reasonable man would not agree with him。
〃If one is to divide； all must share alike；〃 he said； in his deep
bass； after a little consideration。
〃It can't be done；〃 said Nekhludoff； who had already prepared his
reply。 〃If all are to share alike； then those who do not work
themselvesdo not ploughwill sell their shares to the rich。
The rich will again get at the land。 Those who live by working
the land will multiply； and land will again be scarce。 Then the
rich will again get those who need land into their power。〃
〃Just so；〃 quickly said the ex…soldier。
〃Forbid to sell the land； let only him who ploughs it have it；〃
angrily interrupted the oven…builder。
To this Nekhludoff replied that it was impossible to know who was
ploughing for himself and who for another。
The tall； reasonable man proposed that an arrangement be made so
that they should all plough communally； and those who ploughed
should get the produce and those who did not should get nothing。
To this communistic project Nekhludoff had also an answer ready。
He said that for such an arrangement it would be necessary that
all should have ploughs； and that all the horses should be alike；
so that none should be left behind； and that ploughs and horses
and all the implements would have to be communal property； and
that in order to get that； all the people would have to agree。
〃Our people could not be made to agree in a lifetime；〃 said the
cross old man。
〃We should have regular fights；〃 said the white…bearded old man
with the laughing eyes。 〃So that the thing is not as simple as it
looks；〃 said Nekhludoff； 〃and this is a thing not only we but
many have been considering。 There is an American； Henry George。
This is what he has thought out； and I agree with him。〃
〃Why； you are the master； and you give it as you like。 What's it
to you？ The power is yours；〃 said the cross old man。
This confused Nekhludoff； but he was pleased to see that not he
alone was dissatisfied with this interruption。
You wait a bit； Uncle Simon； let him tell us about it；〃 said the
reasonable man； in his imposing bass。
This emboldened Nekhludoff； and he began to explain Henry
George's single…tax system 〃The earth is no man's； it is God's；〃
he began。
〃Just so； that it is；〃 several voices replied。
〃The land is common to all。 All have the same right to it； but
there is good land and bad land； and every one would like to take
the good land。 How is one to do in order to get it justly
divided？ In this way： he that will use the good land must pay
those who have got no land the value of the land he uses；〃
Nekhludoff went on； answering his own question。 〃As it would be
difficult to say who should pay whom； and money is needed for
communal use； it should be arranged that he who uses the good
land should pay the amount of the value of his land to the
commune for its needs。 Then every one would share equally。 If you
want to use land pay for itmore for the good； less for the bad
land。 If you do not wish to use land； don't pay anything； and
those who use the land will pay the taxes and the communal
expenses for you。〃
〃Well； he had a head； this George；〃 said the oven…builder； moving
his brows。 〃He who has good land must pay more。〃
〃If only the payment is according to our strength；〃 said the tall
man with the bass voice； evidently foreseeing how the matter
would end。
〃The payment should be not too high and not too low。 If it is too
high it will not get paid； and there will be a loss； and if it is
too low it will be bought and sold。 There would be a trading in
land。 This is what I wished to arrange among you here。〃
〃That is just； that is right； yes； that would do；〃 said the
peasants。
〃He has a head； this George；〃 said the broad…shouldered old man
with the curls。 〃See what he has invented。〃
〃Well； then； how would it be if I wished to take some land？〃
asked the smiling foreman。
〃If there is an allotment to spare； take it and work it；〃 said
Nekhludoff。
〃What do you want it for？ You have sufficient as it is；〃 said the
old man with the laughing eyes。
With this the conference ended。
Nekhludoff repeated his offer； and advised the men to talk it
over with the rest of the commune and to return with the answer。
The peasants said they would talk it over and bring an answer；
and left in a state of excitement。 Their loud talk was audible as
they went along the road； and up to late in the night the sound
of voices came along the river from the village。
The next day the peasants did not go to work； but spent it in
considering the landlord's offer。 The commune was divided into
two partiesone which regarded the offer as a profitable one to
themselves and saw no danger in agreeing with it； and another
which suspected and feared the offer it did not under