I let the laggard peasants pass me on the
homeward way. The lamps were lit, the soup was served,
the company were all at table, and the room sounded
already with multitudinous talk before I entered. I
took my place and found I was opposite to Madden. Over
six feet high and well set up, the hair dark and
streaked with silver, the eyes dark and kindly, the
mouth very good-natured, the teeth admirable; linen and
hands exquisite; English clothes, an English voice, an
English bearing--the man stood out conspicuous from the
company. Yet he had made himself at home, and seemed
to enjoy a certain quiet popularity among the noisy
boys of the table-d'hote. He had an odd silver giggle
of a laugh that sounded nervous even when he was really
amused, and accorded ill with his big stature and
manly, melancholy face. This laugh fell in continually
all through dinner like the note of the triangle in a
piece of modern French music; and he had at times a
kind of pleasantry, rather of manner than of words,
with which he started or maintained the merriment.
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