"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.

"Roulette, indeed? I play roulette? Really, in view of my
position-- Recollect what you are saying, my dearest mother. You
must still be unwell."

"Rubbish, rubbish!" she retorted. "The truth is that you
CANNOT be got away from that roulette. You are simply telling
lies. This very day I mean to go and see for myself what
roulette is like. Prascovia, tell me what there is to be seen
here; and do you, Alexis Ivanovitch, show me everything; and do
you, Potapitch, make me a list of excursions. What IS there to be
seen?" again she inquired of Polina.

"There is a ruined castle, and the Shlangenberg."

"The Shlangenberg? What is it? A forest?"