Answer:
C. He is protective of his wealth.
Explanation:
Stepan states these lines when he sees that Ivan Vassiliyitch Lomov has come to visit him, but does not know the reason for the visit. It turns out, however, that Lomov has come to propose marriage to Stepan's daughter, Natalia. The lines indicate that Stepan is very protective of his money, and that he is not willing to give it away easily.
