His face had a uniform tint of old ivory, except his cheeks, which had a coat, as it were of brickdust.

His mouth seemed to have been sketched by a student in the rudiments of drawing, whose elbow had been jogged while he was tracing it.

His lips, which pouted almost like a negro's, disclosed teeth not unlike a stag-hound's and his double-chin reposed itself upon a white cravat, one of whose points threatened the stars, while the other was ready to pierce the ground.

A torrent of light hair escaped from under the enormous brim of his well-worn felt-hat.

He wore a hazel-coloured overcoat with a large cape, worn thread-bare and rough as a grater; from its yawning pockets peeped bundles of manuscripts and pamphlets.