The man was clad in a rough pea-jacket, and bore traces of smoke and grime upon his face and hands.
Yet there is a Freemasonry among smokers which overrides every social difference, so Robert stopped and held out his case of fusees.
"A light ?" said he.
"Thank you." The man picked out a fusee, struck it, and bent his head to it.

He had a pale, thin face, a short straggling beard, and a very sharp and curving nose, with decision and character in the straight thick eyebrows which almost met on either side of it.

Clearly a superior kind of workman, and possibly one of those who had been employed in the construction of the new house.

Here was a chance of getting some first-hand information on the question which had aroused his curiosity.
Robert waited until he had lit his pipe, and then walked on beside him.
"Are you going in the direction of the new Hall ?" he asked.
"Yes." The man's voice was cold, and his manner reserved.
"Perhaps you were engaged in the building of it ?" "Yes, I had a hand in it." "They say that it is a wonderful place inside.

It has been quite the talk of the district.