Such was the head-dress. The broad shoulders beneath were covered with a
cape of long and glossy fur blacker than coal, on to either shoulder
of which drooped ear-rings made of rings of green stone which afterward
Hugh came to know was jade. The cape of fur, which hung down to the
knees and was set over a kind of surplice of yellow silk, was open in
front, revealing its wearer's naked bosom that was clothed only with row
upon row of round gems of the size of a hazel nut. These like the fur
were black, but shone with a strange and lustrous sheen. The man's thick
arms were naked, but on his hands he wore white leather gloves made
without division like a sock, as though to match the white sandals on
his feet.
This was the Man's attire. Now for him who wore it. He was tall, but not
taller than are many other men; he was broad, but not broader than many
other men, and yet he looked stronger than all the men in the world. On
his brow, which was prominent, smooth black hair parted in the middle
was plastered back as that of women sometimes is, making hard lines
against the yellow skin below. He had very thin eyebrows that ran upward
on either side of a bow-shaped wrinkle in the centre of his forehead.
The eyes beneath were small and pale--paler even than those of Grey
Dick--yet their glance was like the points of thrusting swords.
With those little eyes alone he seemed to smile, for the rest of his
countenance did not move.
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