He had argued the point in subsequent letters; he had even offered his own share of their inheritance as additional capital.

He felt that he deserved an answer to this offer, and believed that his happiness depended upon Alec's acceding to the proposed change of his life-plan.

His mind full of this secondary subject, he perused the sheets of the letter with singular impatience and distaste.

Any man might, in the most favourable circumstances, have been excused for experiencing impatience at having so wild a tale foisted in brief confusion upon his credulity; in the mood of his present circumstance the elder Trenholme refolded the letter, using within himself the strongest language in his vocabulary.
Robert Trenholme was not a happy man just now.

Since he had last seen Alec a change had come to him which made this matter of the other's calling of warmer interest than it had been.