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ALEXÁNDRA IVÁNOVNA. Considered so by everybody.
PETER SEMYÓNOVICH. Oh dear! Disputing again.
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. Even if I considered that forest mine, which I
cannot do, we have 3000 acres of forest, with about 150 trees to the
acre. In all, about 450,000 trees--is that correct? Well, they have cut
down ten trees--that is, one 45-thousandth part. Now is it worth while,
and can one really decide, to tear a man away from his family and put
him in prison for that?
STYÓPA. Ah! but if you don't hold on to this one 45-thousandth, all the
other 44,990 trees will very soon be cut down also.
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. But I only said that in answer to your aunt. In
reality I have no right to this forest. Land belongs to everyone; or
rather, it can't belong to anyone. We have never put any labour into
this land.
STYÓPA. No, but you saved money and preserved this forest.
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. How did I get my savings? What enabled me to save
up? And I didn't preserve the forest myself! However, this is a matter
which can't be proved to anyone who does not himself feel ashamed when
he strikes at another man--
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