Easton knew that Crass could get him the sack at any time, and would not scruple to do so if he wanted to make room for some crony of his own.

Crass was the 'coddy' or foreman of the job.

Considered as a workman he had no very unusual abilities; he was if anything inferior to the majority of his fellow workmen.

But although he had but little real ability he pretended to know everything, and the vague references he was in the habit of making to 'tones', and 'shades', and 'harmony', had so impressed Hunter that the latter had a high opinion of him as a workman.

It was by pushing himself forward in this way and by judicious toadying to Hunter that Crass managed to get himself put in charge of work.
Although Crass did as little work as possible himself he took care that the others worked hard.