He had given his views to his father, as will be remembered; and though Mr.Mollett senior had not professed himself as absolutely agreeing with them, he had nevertheless owned that he was imbued with the necessity of taking some great step.

He had gone down to take this great step, and Aby was very anxious to know how it had been taken.
When the father and son were both sober, or when the son was tipsy, or when the father was absolutely drunk--an accident which would occur occasionally, the spirit and pluck of the son was in the ascendant.

He at such times was the more masterful of the two, and generally contrived, either by persuasion or bullying, to govern his governor.

But when it did happen that Mollett pere was half drunk and cross with drink, then, at such moments, Mollett fils had to acknowledge to himself that his governor was not to be governed.
And, indeed, at such moments his governor could be very disagreeable--could say nasty, bitter things, showing very little parental affection, and make himself altogether bad society, not only to his son, but to his son's companions also.

Now it appeared to Aby that his father was at present in this condition.
He had only to egg him on to further drinking, and the respectable gentleman would become stupid, noisy, soft, and affectionate.