`` you may easily believe , '' said he , `` how great was the difficulty to persuade my father that all necessary knowledge was not comprised in the noble art of bookkeeping ; and , indeed , i believe i left him incredulous to the last , for his constant answer to my unwearied entreaties was the same as that of the dutch schoolmaster in the vicar of wakefield : -'i have ten thousand florins a year without greek , i eat heartily without greek .