He finds it absurd that the old man, so firm a Christian, should have disinherited a Christian, one devoted to the ministry of Jesus, for an unbeliever like Bernal.

It is true, I talked to him in this strain myself, and I cannot deny that I wield even a greater influence over men than over women.

I dare say I could have brought Bernal around even had he been selfish and stubborn.

By putting a proposition forward as a matter of course, one may often induce another to accept it as such, whereas he might dispute it if it were put forward as at all debatable.
But as a matter of fact he required no talking to; he accepted my views readily.

The boy doesn't seem to know the value of money.