I am taking now three times as much as I did before.

Now I should not mind, indeed, I should be glad, if I thought that you would succeed me here as a son would do.

I would gladly take you into partnership with me, and you would have the whole business after my death.

But I know, my boy, that it wouldn't do.

I know that the time will come when you will not be content with so dull a life here.
You will either get an offer from some West End house which would open higher prospects to you, or you will be wandering away as a collector.
In any case you would not stop here, of that I am quite sure, and therefore do not care, as I should have done, had you been my son, for the increase of the business.