Among his intimate friends there were those who heard him declare frequently that his liver had become useless to him; and that, as for gastric juices, he had none left to him.

But still his beauty remained.

The perfect form of his almost god-like face was the same as ever, and the brightness of his bright blue eye was never quenched.
On the present occasion he had come to Vavasor's room with the object of asking from him certain assistance, and perhaps also some amount of advice.

But as regarded the latter article he was, I think, in the state of most men when they seek for counsellors who shall counsel them to do evil.

Advice administered in accordance with his own views would give him comfortable encouragement, but advice on the other side he was prepared to disregard altogether.