His features were so refined as to be almost effeminate, and so regular that they would have been perfect if it had not been for that ill-fitting, slabbing mouth.

It was a clever, and yet it was a weak face, full of a sort of fickle enthusiasm and feeble impulsiveness.
I felt that the more I knew him the less reason I should probably find either to like him or to fear him, and in my first conclusion I was right, although I had occasion to change my views upon the second.
'You will forgive me, Monsieur Laval, if I was a little cold at first,' said he.

'Since the Emperor has been upon the coast the place swarms with police agents, so that a trader must look to his own interests.
You will allow that my fears of you were not unnatural, since neither your dress nor your appearance were such as one would expect to meet with in such a place and at such a time.' It was on my lips to return the remark, but I refrained.
'I can assure you,' said I, 'that I am merely a traveller who have lost my way.

Now that I am refreshed and rested I will not encroach further upon your hospitality, except to ask you to point out the way to the nearest village.' 'Tut; you had best stay where you are, for the night grows wilder every instant.' As he spoke there came a whoop and scream of wind in the chimney, as if the old place were coming down about our ears.

He walked across to the window and looked very earnestly out of it, just as I had seen him do upon my first approach.