The elderly grey - haired man is a coppersmith by trade.
The coppersmith faced the iron bar with copper.
Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works.
Tim.4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did many evil things to me; the Lord will recompense him according to his works.
While he still went out, he had purchased of a coppersmith, for a few sous, a little copper crucifix which he had hung up on a nail opposite his bed.
