“I-I am surprised at you, my dearest mother,” said the General in some confusion. “I-I am greatly surprised. But I do not need any extraneous control of my finances. Moreover, my expenses do not exceed my income, and we⁠—”

“They do not exceed it? Fie! Why, you are robbing your children of their last kopeck⁠—you, their guardian!”

“After this,” said the General, completely taken aback, “⁠—after what you have just said, I do not know whether⁠—”

“You do not know what ? By heavens, are you never going to drop that roulette of yours? Are you going to whistle all your property away?”

This made such an impression upon the General that he almost choked with fury.