But is it not largely based on an ascetic face, long white hair, and a moustache that hides the cruel corners of the mouth?
For the corners ARE cruel.
Some day, I will show you them.

Cut off the long hair, shave the grizzled moustache--and what then will remain ?" She drew a profile hastily.

"Just that," and she showed it me.

'Twas a face like Robespierre's, grown harder and older and lined with observation.

I recognised that it was in fact the essence of Sebastian.
Next day, as it turned out, the Professor himself insisted upon testing lethodyne in his own person.