He hated him for a certain reposeful sense of capability which he had at first set down as conceit, and later on had learnt to value as something innate in blood and education which was not conceit.

He hated him because his gentlemanliness was so obvious that it showed up the flaws in other men, as the masterpiece upon the wall shows up the weaknesses of the surrounding pictures.

But most of all he hated him because Jocelyn Gordon seemed to have something in common with the son of Sir John Meredith--a world above the head of even the most successful trader on the coast--a world in which he, Victor Durnovo, could never live and move at ease.
Beyond this, Victor Durnovo cherished the hatred of the Found Out.

He felt instinctively that behind the courteous demeanour of Jack Meredith there was an opinion--a cool, unbiassed criticism--of himself, which Meredith had no intention of divulging.
On hearing that Jack was at the bungalow with Jocelyn, Maurice Gordon glanced at the clock and wondered how he could get away from his present visitor.

The atmosphere of Jack Meredith's presence was preferable to that diffused by Victor Durnovo.