He had not expected this of Harran.

But so great was his affection for his son, so accustomed had he become to listening to his advice, to respecting his opinions, that, for the moment, after the first shock of surprise and disappointment, he was influenced to give a certain degree of attention to this new proposition.

He in no way countenanced it.

At any moment he was prepared to rise in his place and denounce it and Osterman both.

It was trickery of the most contemptible order, a thing he believed to be unknown to the old school of politics and statesmanship to which he was proud to belong; but since Harran, even for one moment, considered it, he, Magnus, who trusted Harran implicitly, would do likewise--if it was only to oppose and defeat it in its very beginnings.
And abruptly the discussion began.