Itshowedsuchanirresistibledesiretocrossthethresholdbeyondwhichsomeprodigiousmysteryhadoccurred；itappealedwithsomucheloquence，notonlyofthemouthandeyes，butwithallitsfeatures，thatIcouldnotrefrainfromburstingintolaughter。FredericLarsan，nomorethanmyself，couldretainhisgravity。Meanwhile，standingontheothersideofthegate，hecalmlyputthekeyinhispocket。Icloselyscrutinisedhim。
Hemightbeaboutfiftyyearsofage。Hehadafinehead，hishairturninggrey；acolourlesscomplexion，andafirmprofile。Hisforeheadwasprominent，hischinandcheekscleanshaven。Hisupperlip，withoutmoustache，wasfinelychiselled。Hiseyeswererathersmallandround，withalookinthemthatwasatoncesearchinganddisquieting。Hewasofmiddleheightandwellbuilt，withageneralbearingelegantandgentlemanly。Therewasnothingabouthimofthevulgarpoliceman。Inhisway，hewasanartist，andonefeltthathehadahighopinionofhimself。Thescepticaltoneofhisconversationwasthatofamanwhohadbeentaughtbyexperience。
Hisstrangeprofessionhadbroughthimintocontactwithsomanycrimesandvillaniesthatitwouldhavebeenremarkableifhisnaturehadnotbeenalittlehardened。
Larsanturnedhisheadatthesoundofavehiclewhichhadcomefromthechateauandreachedthegatebehindhim。WerecognisedthecabwhichhadconveyedtheexaminingmagistrateandhisRegistrarfromthestationatEpinay。
\"Ah！\"saidFredericLarsan，\"ifyouwanttospeakwithMonsieurRobertDarzac，heishere。\"