The clerk explained that the peasants purposely permitted their calves, and even cows, to roam over the master's meadows. That two cows belonging to these women had been caught on the meadow and driven into an inclosure. The clerk demanded from the women thirty copecks per cow, or two days' work. "Time and again I told them," said the smiling clerk, looking around at Nekhludoff, as if calling him to witness, "to look out for cows when driving them to feed." "I just went to see to the child, and they walked away." "Don't leave them when you undertake to look after them." "And who would feed my child?" "If they had only grazed, at least, they would have no pains in their stomachs. But they only walked in." "All the meadows are spoiled," the clerk turned to Nekhludoff. "If they are not made to pay there will be no hay left." "Don't be sinning," cried the pregnant woman. "My cow was never caught." "But now that she was caught, pay for her, or work." "Well, then, I will work. But return me the cow; don't torture her," she cried angrily. "It is bad enough as it is; I get no rest, either day or night. Mother-in-law is sick; my husband is drunk. Single-handed I have to do all the work, and I have no strength. May you choke yourself!" she shouted and began to weep. Nekhludoff asked the clerk to release the cows and returned to the house, wondering why people do not see what is so plain. CHAPTER V. Whether it was because there were fewer peasants present, or because he was not occupied with himself, but with the matter in hand, Nekhludoff felt no agitation when the seven peasants chosen from the villagers responded to the summons. He first of all expressed his views on private ownership of land. "As I look upon it," he said, "land ought not to be the subject of purchase and sale, for if land can be sold, then those who have money will buy it all in and charge the landless what they please for the use of it. People will then be compelled to pay for the right to stand on the earth," he added, quoting Spencer's argument. "There remains to put on wings and fly," said an old man with smiling eyes and gray beard. "That's so," said a long-nosed peasant in a deep basso. "Yes, sir," said the ex-soldier. "The old woman took some grass for the cow. They caught her, and to jail she went," said a good-natured, lame peasant. "There is land for five miles around, but the rent is higher than the land can produce," said the toothless, angry old man. "I am of the same opinion as you," said Nekhludoff, "and that is the reason I want to give you the land." "Well, that would be a kind deed," said a broad-shouldered old peasant with a curly, grayish beard like that of Michael Angelo's Moses, evidently thinking that Nekhludoff intended to rent out the land. "That is why I came here. I do not wish to own the land any longer, but it is necessary to consider how to dispose of it."