The idea never occurred to him.

In his scheme of things money had not been a matter of sufficient urgency to necessitate an argument with one's wife.
She was always welcome to all that he had.
And now suddenly, money acquired urgency in his eyes.

It was most disturbing.

He was not frightened: he was merely disturbed.

If he had ever known the sensation of wanting money and not being able to obtain it, he would probably have been frightened.