"Your employer obligingly consented to aid us in our little ruse, by entrusting you with valueless papers."
"But what was your purpose?"
"Ramon wanted to observe and study your character without your knowledge, and he assures me he is quite enchanted with you. I received a long letter from him this morning, in which he speaks of you is the highest terms."
"I regret my inability to return the compliment; but why should it matter to me whether he thinks well or ill of me?"
"It matters very much, indeed, my boy; for the happy future of which I spoke depends entirely on Ramon's opinion of you."
"This is an enigma to me."
"Although not exactly rich, Ramon possesses a modest fortune, augmented each day by his economies."
"Humph! I believe that. But what you charitably term economy is sordid avarice, and nothing else."
"Call it what you will; we shall not bandy words about it. Owing to this avarice, however, Ramon will leave a snug fortune after him—I say after him, because he gives nothing away during his life-time."
"I am not surprised at that. But I really cannot understand what you are leading to, father!"