Although his appearance at first sight was immaculate, there were certain alarming symptoms to be noted.

His linen collar was certainly doing service for the second time, and Burton noticed with dismay a slight revival of the auctioneer's taste for loud colors in his shirt and socks.
"It was yesterday afternoon," Mr.Waddington continued.

"I was selling an oak chest.

I explained that it was not a genuine antique but that it had certainly some claims to antiquity on account of its design.

That seemed to me to be a very fair way of putting it.