Nature seldom errs by making supermen.

A drab man, in many ways, Nelson was extraordinary mainly in this, that his mind followed straight, obvious channels, and that never, except under the urge of extreme passion, did he depart from the strictly logical line of action.

In this, of course, he was superior to the average person, who too frequently undertakes the unusual.

Calvin Gray's ebullience, his dash, his magnificence of demeanor, could be nothing less than an affront to such a man; Nelson could see in him only a pompous braggart, an empty, arrogant strutter.
Age and easy success had not improved the banker's apoplectic turn of mind, hence Gray's defiant declaration of war, his impudent assurance that the recent misfortunes to the house of Nelson were the direct results of his own deliberate efforts, had proven almost unendurable.
In the first place, Nelson could not imagine a man making such a declaration; it was new to his entire experience and contrary to his code.

It was unconservative, therefore it staggered him.