He leans at this moment over the shoulders of one of the
company, and, while whispering in his ears, at the same time, with an
upward glance, surveys the whole. His lowering eyes, almost shut in and
partially concealed by his scowling and bushy eyebrows, are of a quick
gray, stern, and penetrating in their general expression, yet, when
narrowly observed, putting on an air of vacancy, if not stupidity, that
furnishes a perfect blind to the lurking meaning within. His nose is
large, yet not disproportionately so; his head well made, though a
phrenologist might object to a strong animal preponderance in the rear;
his mouth bold and finely curved, is rigid however in its compression,
and the lips, at times almost woven together, are largely indicative of
ferocity; they are pale in color, and dingily so, yet his flushed cheek
and brow bear striking evidence of a something too frequent revel; his
hair, thin and scattered, is of a dark brown complexion and sprinkled
with gray; his neck is so very short that a single black handkerchief,
wrapped loosely about it, removes all seeming distinction between itself
and the adjoining shoulders--the latter being round and uprising,
forming a socket, into which the former appears to fall as into a
designated place.
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