Fyodor Dostoevsky: The Gambler

4. CHAPTER IV (continued)

"I beg pardon," I said. "Yet it would be difficult to say which is the worst of the two--Russian ineptitude or the German method of growing rich through honest toil."

"What an extraordinary idea," cried the General.

"And what a RUSSIAN idea!" added the Frenchman.

I smiled, for I was rather glad to have a quarrel with them.

"I would rather live a wandering life in tents," I cried, "than bow the knee to a German idol!"

"To WHAT idol?" exclaimed the General, now seriously angry.