All the quality of the first phase of their meeting was determined by him, all the tone and procedure were his.

That happened as if it was a matter of course.

All Redwood's expectations vanished at his presence.

He shook hands before Redwood remembered that he meant to parry that familiarity; he pitched the note of their conference from the outset, sure and clear, as a search for expedients under a common catastrophe.
If he made any mistake it was when ever and again his fatigue got the better of his immediate attention, and the habit of the public meeting carried him away.

Then he drew himself up--through all their interview both men stood--and looked away from Redwood, and began to fence and justify.