His observation of the serfs is quite clever; since they are ‘property’ and are valued at how much each one cane produce, every time he sees a lady’s bonnet, or a rose tree, or some good, he imagines how many families those things cost.

The idea of the serfs writing to a new owner begging to be bought by them so they can stay on the land is terribly sad.

He really despises the Russian lack of ‘taste’. Prude.