It is a sporting estate, is it not, prince ?" "Essentially so," replied Paul.

"Bears, wolves, deer, besides, of course, black game, capercailzie, ptarmigan--every thing one could desire." "Speaking as a sportsman," suggested Vassili gravely.
"Speaking as a sportsman." "Of course--" Vassili paused, and with a little gesture of the hand included Steinmetz in the conversation.

It may have been that he preferred to have him talking than watching.

"Of course, like all great Russian landholders, you have your troubles with the people, though you are not, strictly speaking, within the famine district." "Not quite; we are not starving, but we are hungry," said Steinmetz bluntly.
Vassili laughed, and shook a gold eye-glass chidingly.
"Ah, my friend, your old pernicious habit of calling a spade a spade! It is unfortunate that they should hunger a little, but what will you?
They must learn to be provident, to work harder and drink less.

With such people experience is the only taskmaster possible.