Do you not understand the usefulness of this measure ?" Pavel replied loudly: "If the factory should drain the marsh at its own expense, we would all understand it!" "This factory is not in the philanthropy business!" remarked the manager dryly.

"I order you all to start work at once!" And he began to descend, cautiously feeling the iron with his feet, and without looking at anyone.
A dissatisfied hum was heard in the crowd.
"What!" asked the manager, halting.
All were silent; then from the distance came a solitary voice: "You go to work yourself!" "If in fifteen minutes you do not start work, I'll order every single one of you to be discharged!" the manager announced dryly and distinctly.
He again proceeded through the crowd, but now an indistinct murmur followed him, and the shouting grew louder as his figure receded.
"Speak to him!" "That's what you call justice! Worse luck!" Some turned to Pavel and shouted: "Say, you great lawyer, you, what's to be done now?
You talked and talked, but the moment he came it all went up in the air!" "Well, Vlasov, what now ?" When the shouts became more insistent, Pavel raised his hand and said: "Comrades, I propose that we quit work until he gives up that kopeck!" Excited voices burst out: "He thinks we're fools!" "We ought to do it!" "A strike ?" "For one kopeck ?" "Why not?
Why not strike ?" "We'll all be discharged!" "And who is going to do the work ?" "There are others!" "Who?
Judases ?" "Every year I would have to give three rubles and sixty kopecks to the mosquitoes!" "All of us would have to give it!" Pavel walked down and stood at the side of his mother.

No one paid any attention to him now.

They were all yelling and debating hotly with one another.
"You cannot get them to strike!" said Rybin, coming up to Pavel.
"Greedy as these people are for a penny, they are too cowardly.

You may, perhaps, induce about three hundred of them to follow you, no more.