He therefore waited a little longer and presently he heard the sound of voices upstairs but was unable to recognize them.

He was just about to go out into the passage to listen, when whoever it was began coming downstairs.

Crass at once resumed his work.

The footsteps came along the passage leading to the kitchen: slow, heavy, ponderous footsteps, but yet the sound was not such as would be made by a man heavily shod.

It was not Misery, evidently.
As the footsteps entered the kitchen, Crass looked round and beheld a very tall, obese figure, with a large, fleshy, coarse-featured, clean-shaven face, and a great double chin, the complexion being of the colour and appearance of the fat of uncooked bacon.