Moreover it was unadorned by either beard or moustache.

His hair was grey, and was worn somewhat longer than is usual.

He could speak fluently almost every language of the East, and had been imprisoned by the Russians for sealing in prohibited waters, had been tortured by the Chinese on the Yang-tse, and, to his own unextinguishable disgrace, flogged by the French in Tonquin.

Not the least curious trait in his character was the affection he entertained for Kitwater.

The pair had been together for years, had quarrelled repeatedly, but had never separated.