Don't you admire my cunning?
I want to have an income without any labour." "I can go on as before; there's no necessity for us to go shares." "But suppose I wish it?
Look now! I have no son, and you are just the son I should like to have had." Alexander gently raised the old man's hand to his lips, which he placed on his head, as if by way of blessing.
"And then," continued the master, "how nice it will be if you bring a wife home, and I have the joy of a happy domestic life which I have never had yet!" Alexander sighed.

"We shall have to live a long time before we get to that," said he.
"What?
Do you want to remain wifeless all your days?
Come, don't pull such a holy mug as that! Would you keep your secrets from me, when you know I can see through you as if you were a glass of water?
Do you think I don't know whom you love?
Speak out! don't be such a coward! Tell the girl you love her, and cannot do without her.

Or perhaps you would like me to woo her for you?
I shouldn't mind that, I am sure; I should like to be your best man.

Well, and now I'll go and ask the girl to have you, and to-morrow you shall have her, and we'll have such a betrothal that the very angels shall dance for joy." Alexander never said a word; but he cast down his eyes, turned pale, pressed Master Boltay's hand in silence, and then quitted the room.
So long as the lad had been with him, Boltay was all radiant and jocose, but when he had departed, a couple of tears trickled from the old man's eyes.

He himself suspected and feared that Alexander loved in vain.
Boltay thought the matter over for some time, and then resolved to first of all ask for Fanny's hand for Alexander--perhaps the girl might still have some kindly feeling for him.