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"Besides that, Peter Nikolaevich, by exchanging into the Guards I

shall be in a more prominent position," continued Berg, "and

vacancies occur much more frequently in the Foot Guards. Then

just think what can be done with two hundred and thirty rubles! I

even manage to put a little aside and to send something to my

father," he went on, emitting a smoke ring.

"La balance y est... * A German knows how to skin a flint, as the

proverb says," remarked Shinshin, moving his pipe to the other

side of his mouth and winking at the count.

* So that squares matters.