he took a deep breath and exhaled loudly like a motor running down , as he listened to the old dying predecessor impress emotionally upon his brood the importance of carrying on his lifes work and settling his affairs outstanding , for fear that all his efforts and all for which he toiled and was abidingly made to suffer should be reduced to naught and , hence , irretrievably losterased as he soon would be from this world and from this life , which had born such terrific importance to him .