He could not conceive of a labouring man loving his wife and children; it wasn't natural! He pictured the home-life of the lower classes as nothing short of indecent; there couldn't be anything fine or noble or enduring in the processes of birth, existence and death as related to them.

Nature took its course with them, and society,--as represented by the class to which he belonged,--provided for the litters they cast upon the world.

In a word, Abel Landover's father and grandfather and great-grandfather had been rich men before him.
He despised Captain Trigger for the simple reason that that faithful, gallant sailor was an employee of the company in which he was a director.

It meant nothing to him that Captain Trigger came of fine, hardy, valiant stock; it meant less to him that he was a law unto himself aboard the Doraine.

For, when all was said and done, Captain Trigger worked for just so much money per month and doubtless hated the men who paid him his wage.