Why did the peddler decline the invitation?

The peddler was alarmed at the idea of spending the night at the manor of the iron master, of the Ram Iron works, who was an ex-army man. He had not made an attempt to correct the iron master when he was mistaken for an old acquaintance.  Moreover, he was anxious about the fact that he had the stolen thirty kronor bills with him, and accepting the invitation "would be like throwing himself voluntarily into the lion's den". Therefore, the peddler thought it  better to decline the invitation.

The peddler knew that the ironmaster had mistaken him for his old regimental comrade. Secondly, he had stolen money —thirty kronor—on him. Going to the ironmaster’s residence would be like entering the lion’s den. So, he declined the invitation.