Bassett usually picks winners.

From what I hear of you and what I've seen I think you're all right myself.

My boy has taken quite a great fancy to you." Thatcher looked at the end of his cigar and waited for Dan to reply.
"I've grown very fond of Allen.

He's very unusual; he's full of surprises." "That boy," said Thatcher, pointing his cigar at Dan, "is the greatest boy in the world; but, damn it all, I don't make him out." "Well, he's different; he's an idealist.

I'm not sure that he isn't a philosopher!" Thatcher nodded, as though this were a corroboration of his own surmises.
"He has a lot of ideas that are what they call advanced, but it's not for me to say that he isn't right about them.