He walked past them without acknowledging their greetings.

His presence silenced and confused the crowd, and evoked embarrassed smiles and low exclamations, as of repentant children who had already come to regret their prank.
Now he passed, by the mother, casting a stern glance at her face, and stopped before the pile of iron.

Somebody from above extended a hand to him; he did not take it, but with an easy, powerful movement of his body he clambered up and stationed himself in front of Pavel and Sizov.
Looking around the silent crowd, he asked: "What's the meaning of this crowd?
Why have you dropped your work ?" For a few seconds silence reigned.

Sizov waved his cap in the air, shrugged his shoulders, and dropped his head.
"I am asking you a question!" continued the manager.
Pavel moved alongside of him and said in a low voice, pointing to Sizov and Rybin: "We three are authorized by all the comrades to ask you to revoke your order about the kopeck discount." "Why ?" asked the manager, without looking at Pavel.
"We do not consider such a tax just!" Pavel replied loudly.
"So, in my plan to drain the marsh you see only a desire to exploit the workingmen and not a desire to better their conditions; is that it ?" "Yes!" Pavel replied.
"And you, also ?" the manager asked Rybin.
"The very same!" "How about you, my worthy friend ?" The manager turned to Sizov.
"I, too, want to ask you to let us keep our kopecks." And drooping his head again, Sizov smiled guiltily.

The manager slowly bent his look upon the crowd again, shrugged his shoulders, and then, regarding Pavel searchingly, observed: "You appear to be a fairly intelligent man.