He liked to study them and to reach conclusions founded upon reason, observation, and common sense.

Having reached such a conclusion, it disturbed him when the subjects of the problem suddenly upset the whole process of reasoning and apparently proved him wrong by behavior exactly contrary to that which he had expected.
He had been pretty well satisfied with the result of his visit to young Dunn at the latter's office.

Malcolm had surrendered, perhaps not gracefully or unconditionally, but he had surrendered, and the condition--secrecy--was one which the captain himself had suggested.
Captain Elisha's mental attitude toward the son of the late Tammany leader had been a sort of good-natured but alert tolerance.

He judged the young man to be a product of rearing and environment.

He had known spoiled youths at the Cape and, in their surroundings, they behaved much as Malcolm did in his.