Alfie's eyes went a little wide - maybe a little scared at the idea, though he could hide it if he needed to and he tried, now. "Buy it?" He obviously had never even though of the idea.
"I ... I mean, you were looking for someone to work for you, and I thought..." He realized he was babbling. "I don't have the money to buy it." He finally said in a rush, which was really not the most dignified way of getting out of the babbling fit.