He wore a coloured shirt and a 'dickey' which was very soiled and covered with splashes of paint, and one side of it was projecting from the opening of the waistcoat.

His head was covered with an old cap, heavy and shining with paint.

He was very thin and stooped slightly.
Although he was really only fifty-five, he looked much older, for he was prematurely aged.
He had not been getting his own back for quite five minutes when Hunter softly turned the handle of the lock.

Philpot immediately put out his pipe and descending from his perch opened the door.

When Hunter entered Philpot closed it again and, mounting the steps, went on stripping the wall just above.