His features were large and fairly well-shaped, but his mouth was weak and his cheeks lacked the color of a healthy life.

Tavernake stared at him open-mouthed.

He, for his part, looked at Tavernake as he might have looked at some strange wild animal.
"A thousand apologies, dear Elizabeth!" he exclaimed.

"I knocked, but I imagine that you did not hear me.

Knowing your habits, it did not occur to me that you might be engaged at this hour of the morning." "It is a young man from the house agent's," she announced indifferently, "come to see me about a flat." "In that case," he suggested amiably, "I am, perhaps, not in the way." Elizabeth turned her head slightly and looked at him; he backed precipitately toward the door.
"In a few minutes," he said.