Yet he knew how much trickery and vital evasion and harsh aggression there were in his father's business life.
As yet he had never seen Tarboe--he had been away in the country the whole year nearly--but he imagined a man of strength, abilities, penetration and deep power.

He knew that only a man with savage instincts could work successfully with John Grier; he knew that Grier was without mercy in his business, and that his best year's work had been marked by a mandatory power which only a malevolent policy could produce.

Yet, somehow, he had a feeling that Tarboe had a steadying influence on John Grier.

The old man was not so uncontrolled as in bygone days.
"I'd like to see Tarboe," Carnac said suddenly.

"He ain't the same as you," snapped John Grier.