There was something unpleasant about his face, caused perhaps by his pale complexion and almost colourless moustache; his blue eyes were small and near together, and had a watery, undecided look; his thin fair hair was parted in the middle over his low forehead; there was a scornful look about his mouth, though half concealed by the moustache; and his chin retreated rather abruptly from his lower lip.

On the other hand, he was dressed with extreme care, and his manner showed no small confidence in himself as he pushed forwards, keeping as close as he could to the Duchessa.

He had the air of being thoroughly at home in his surroundings.
Ugo del Ferice was indeed rarely disconcerted, and his self-reliance was most probably one chief cause of his success.

He was a man who performed the daily miracle of creating everything for himself out of nothing.

His father had barely been considered a member of the lower nobility, although he always called himself "dei conti del Ferice"-- of the family of the counts of his name; but where or when the Conti del Ferice had lived, was a question he never was able to answer satisfactorily.