Mr.Keene proved to be a man of uncertain age--he might be eight-and-twenty, but was more probably ten years older.

He was meagre, and of shrewd visage; he wore a black frock coat--rather shiny at the back--and his collar was obviously of paper.

Incipient baldness endowed him in appearance with a noble forehead; he carried eye-glasses.
Whilst 'Arry mumbled a form of introduction, the journalist--so Mr.
Keene described himself--stood in a bowing attitude, one hand to his glasses, seeming to inspect Richard with extreme yet respectful interest.

When he spoke, it was in a rather mincing way, with interjected murmurs--the involuntary overflow, as it were, of his deep satisfaction.
'There are few persons in England whose acquaintance I desire more than that of Mr.Richard Mutimer; indeed, I may leave the statement unqualified and say at once that there is no one.

I have heard you speak in public, Mr.Mutimer.My profession has necessarily led me to hear most of our platform orators, and in one respect you distance them all--in the quality of sincerity.