"This way, this way, Vassily Fedosaitch!" Sipiagin called out, just as if they were groping their way through a tangled forest and Solomin needed a guide."This way! Do be careful, there are some steps here, Vassily Fedosaitch!""If you want to call me by my father's Christian name," Solomin said slowly, "then it isn't Fedosaitch, but Fedotitch."Sipiagin was taken aback and looked at him over his shoulder.
"I'm so sorry, Vassily Fedotitch."
"Please don't mention it."
As soon as they got outside they ran against Kollomietzev.
"Where are you off to?" the latter asked, looking askance at Solomin."Are you going to the factory? C'est la l'individu en question?"Sipiagin opened his eyes wide and shook his head slightly by way of warning.
"Yes, we're going to the factory.I want to show all my sins and transgressions to this gentleman, who is an engineer.Allow me to introduce you.Mr.Kollomietzev, a neighbouring landowner, Mr.
Solomin.
Kollomietzev nodded his head twice in an off-hand manner without looking at Solomin, but the latter looked at him and there was a sinister gleam in his half-closed eyes.
"May I come with you?" Kollomietzev asked."You know I'm always ready to learn.""Certainly, if you like."
They went out of the courtyard into the road and had scarcely taken twenty steps when they ran across a priest in a woven cassock, who was wending his way homeward.Kollomietzev left his two companions and, going up to him with long, firm strides, asked for his blessing and gave him a sounding smack on his moist, red hand, much to the discomfiture of the priest, who did not in the least expect this sort of outburst.He then turned to Solomin and gave him a defiant look.He had evidently heard something about him and wanted to show off and get some fun out of this learned scoundrel.
"C'est une manifestation, mon cher?" Sipiagin muttered through his teeth.
Kollomietzev giggled.
"Oui, mon cher, une manifestation necessaire par temps qui court!"They got to the factory and were met by a Little Russian with an enormous beard and false teeth, who had taken the place of the former manager, a German, whom Sipiagin had dismissed.This man was there in a temporary capacity and understood absolutely nothing; he merely kept on saying "Just so...yes...that's it," and sighing all the time.They began inspecting the place.
Several of the workmen knew Solomin by sight and bowed to him.He even called out to one of them, "Hallo, Gregory! You here?"Solomin was soon convinced that the place was going badly.Money was simply thrown away for no reason whatever.The machines turned out to be of a very poor kind; many of them were quite superfluous and a great many necessary ones were lacking.
Sipiagin kept looking into Solomin's face, trying to guess his opinion, asked a few timid questions, wanted to know if he was at any rate satisfied with the order of the place.
"Oh, the order is all right," Solomin replied, "but I doubt if you can get anything out of it."Not only Sipiagin, but even Kollomietzev felt, that in the factory Solomin was quite at home, was familiar with every little detail, was master there in fact.He laid his hand on a machine as a rider on his horse's neck; he poked a wheel with his finger and it either stood still or began whirling round; he took some paper pulp out of a vat and it instantly revealed all its defects.
Solomin said very little, took no notice of the Little Russian at all, and went out without saying anything.Sipiagin and Kollomietzev followed him.
Sipiagin was so upset that he did not let any one accompany him.
He stamped and ground his teeth with rage.
"I can see by your face," he said turning to Solomin, "that you are not pleased with the place.Of course, I know that it's not in a very excellent condition and doesn't pay as yet.But please...give me your candid opinion as to what you consider to be the principal failings and as to what one could do to improve matters.""Paper-manufacturing is not in my line," Solomin began, "but Ican tell you one thing.I doubt if the aristocracy is cut out for industrial enterprises.""Do you consider it degrading for the aristocracy?" Kollomietzev asked.
Solomin smiled his habitual broad smile.
