Within his belt, fastened by a large metal clasp, he wore a pearl-handled pistol with long barrel; and a rapier, with richly jewelled hilt, dangled at his side.

Altogether he made a fine figure of a man, and one of a sort I had never met before.
If he interested me, doubtless I was no less a study to him.

I could see the astonishment in his eyes, after my first entrance, change to amusement as he gazed.

Then he brought a white hand down, with a smart slap, upon the board beside him.
"By all the saints!" he exclaimed, "but I believe the black was right.
'Tis the face of a gentle, or I know naught of the breed, though the attire might fool the very elect.

Yet, _parbleu_! if memory serves, 't is scarcely worse than what I wore in Spain." He swung down upon his feet and faced me, extending one hand with all cordiality, while lips and eyes smiled pleasantly.
"Monsieur," he said, bowing low, and with a grace of movement quite new to me, "I bid you hearty welcome to whatsoever of good cheer this desert may have to offer, and present to you the companionship of Villiers de Croix.