He was one of the intellects of the province.

Liputin smiled slyly, Virginsky listened rather dejectedly, the others followed the discussion with great attention, especially the ladies and officers.

They all realised that the advocate of the hundred million heads theory had been driven into a corner, and waited to see what would come of it.
"That was a good saying of yours, though," Verhovensky mumbled more carelessly than ever, in fact with an air of positive boredom.
"Emigration is a good idea.

But all the same, if in spite of all the obvious disadvantages you foresee, more and more come forward every day ready to fight for the common cause, it will be able to do without you.
It's a new religion, my good friend, coming to take the place of the old one.

That's why so many fighters come forward, and it's a big movement.
You'd better emigrate! And, you know, I should advise Dresden, not 'the calm islands.' To begin with, it's a town that has never been visited by an epidemic, and as you are a man of culture, no doubt you are afraid of death.