He was indifferent to attacks upon his character, but crushed mercilessly every one who menaced his position.

He stood alone, and a little mysterious; his own party was afraid of him.
Gurnard was quite hidden from me by table ornaments; the Duc de Mersch glowed with light and talked voluminously, as if he had for years and years been starved of human society.

He glowed all over, it seemed to me.

He had a glorious beard, that let one see very little of his florid face and took the edge away from an almost non-existent forehead and depressingly wrinkled eyelids.

He spoke excellent English, rather slowly, as if he were forever replying to toasts to his health.