"How can I tell until I know the circumstances ?"
"He won't do what his father tells him," Sanford explained. "That's the situation in a nutshell."
"Good! Now you are becoming communicative. So you've cut him off because he won't do what you tell him?"
"Yes—the young reprobate. How he ever broke into my family is more than
I can understand."
"You're sure your way is better than his, are you, Stephen?"
"Of course I am. Aren't you?"
"I don't know what your way is any more than I know Allen's, so I can speak without prejudice. I just wanted to be sure that you had given both sides of the question sufficient consideration to be certain of your position. It's a serious thing to send your own son adrift, Stephen."
"He's my son, isn't he?"
"I judge that he has proved that."
"Would you let a son of yours lead you around by the nose?"