“I’m not going to get ruined by some filthy Jew! What do I care if they’re having difficulties? Why do they do these outrageous things, murdering diplomatic secretaries and so on. If they shoot at people they have to count on the fact that people are going to shoot back. And whoever sticks his stupid snout out is going to get hit. I’m telling you: I don’t care if there are three pogroms happening at once! I’m not going to get taken in by any Jews because of that, not by a long shot. So don’t be coming to me looking for sympathy!”

“You’re completely forgetting,” Silbermann said, agitated, “that the person sitting across from you is a Jew. You spend two hours with these people from the party and you start behaving like a—swine.”

“That’s enough,” said Becker, his eyes bulging the way they always did when he was mad. “You aren’t my superior anymore, understand? The times have changed a bit. I’ve put up with a lot from you, more than from anyone else. But just because I’ve always been considerate, you get cocky, that’s just like a Jew. What do you think you’re living off, hm? Who closed the last deals? Where would you be if I hadn’t been so decent as to take the lead? You think you can impress me with your big mouth? Mine is just as big. So, now I’ve said what I wanted to say!”

“Gustav, you have to send back the five thousand marks. That’s extortion plain and simple!”

“And the way I saved your capital is completely on the up and up? Jews always stick together. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Because you’re afraid that a Jew—and one worth millions at that—might lose his money, you want to take away mine! That’s also typically Jewish!”

“But Gustav, be reasonable for a moment! Do you really want to turn into a criminal in your old age?”

“Spare me your lectures on morality. Other people do exactly what I’m doing. Everybody uses whatever advantage he has, but you expect me to be an idealist, is that right? As if you hadn’t made a fortune off the bad luck of others. Now your own luck has turned bad, and we’re the ones making money. But that’s something completely different, is that right? No, my friend, it’s only fair. You may have shrewder heads, but we have harder fists and we’re in the majority. Actually you should be glad I don’t blab on you! So don’t be telling me things. You think I’ve forgotten how you used to take advantage of me? As your authorized representative all I ever earned was three hundred marks. And how much did you make? Because I happen to know!”

“You are the most ungrateful person I’ve ever met! I’d like to know what would have become of you if I hadn’t hired you right after the war. And now you hold it against me that as the head of the company I earned more than you did? After all it was my money I was working with and not yours, wasn’t it?”