The new drying machine had been constructed and partly invented by Levin.

The bailiff had always been against the drying machine, and now it was with suppressed triumph that he announced that the buckwheat had been scorched.

Levin was firmly convinced that if the buckwheat had been scorched, it was only because the precautions had not been taken, for which he had hundreds of times given orders.

He was annoyed, and reprimanded the bailiff.