He half leaped from his chair; the lower part of his face had the rigidity of iron.
"I am not obliged to discuss such a matter as that," he said hoarsely, "with you or with any man." He looked confusedly about him for his hat, which he had left in the hall; and Dr Drummond profited by the instant.

He stepped across and laid a hand on the younger man's shoulder.

Had they both been standing the gesture would have been impossible to Dr Drummond with dignity; as it was, it had not only that, but benignance, a kind of tender good will, rare in expression with the minister, rare, for that matter, in feeling with him too, though the chord was always there to be sounded.
"Finlay," he said; "Finlay!" Between two such temperaments the touch and the tone together made an extraordinary demonstration.

Finlay, with an obvious effort, let it lie upon him.

The tension of his body relaxed, that of his soul he covered, leaning forward and burying his head in his hands.
"Will you say I have no claim to speak ?" asked Dr Drummond, and met silence.