"It is within reach of all, my child. You cannot fail to see it. A state institution, through the care of the Emperor Francis Joseph, Christian of Christ, distributes good luck impartially to every subject of the Empire, whether Christian, Jew, or Mahomedan."
"The lottery?" asked Ochosias, and pouted his lips disdainfully.
"The lottery, you have said it, the lottery which graciously offers us every day a chance of which we neglect to avail ourselves."
"Unless, of course," mused the youth, with a brightening countenance, "you know of some way to draw the winning number——"
"Good. I was sure that blood would presently speak. You are not far from guessing right."
"But, come now. Seriously. You know of some such means?"
"Perhaps. Tell me, who is the master of luck?"
"Jehovah. You yourself just said so."
"Yes, Jehovah, or some god of the outsiders, if any there be mightier than Jehovah, which I cannot believe."
"Other gods may be mighty, like Baal, or like Mammon, who ought by no means to be despised. But Jehovah is the greatest of all. He said: 'I am the Eternal.' And He is."