"Please, Fru Hansson!" It was the banker from Stockholm speaking. "Please forgive the child. After the pleasure he has given us here tonight with his singing, we should not be hard on him."
THE OPERA HOUSE IN STOCKHOLM
He turned to Erik. "Listen, my boy," he continued. "Will you promise me that you will never sing again to annoy people, but only to make them happy?"
"Yes, Herr Banker," murmured Erik.
"And will you also promise to sing again for me some day?" The banker smiled and put out his big hand.
Erik's small one slid into it. "Oh, yes, Herr Banker," he said, "with the greatest of pleasure."
As Erik made his way out of the room, he did not like the satisfied smile on the Baron's face.
Even less would he have liked the Baron's thoughts, had he been able to read them. For Baron Karl was telling himself that, since Hanssonborg was not haunted, there was no reason why he should not become its master. He determined then and there to ask Greta to marry him.
