Pagina 355 di 1294

All his clothes were fresh from the tailor's and were all right,

except for being too new and too distinctly appropriate. Even the

stylish new round hat had the same significance. Pyotr Petrovitch

treated it too respectfully and held it too carefully in his

hands. The exquisite pair of lavender gloves, real Louvain, told

the same tale, if only from the fact of his not wearing them, but

carrying them in his hand for show. Light and youthful colours

predominated in Pyotr Petrovitch's attire. He wore a charming

summer jacket of a fawn shade, light thin trousers, a waistcoat

of the same, new and fine linen, a cravat of the lightest cambric

with pink stripes on it, and the best of it was, this all suited

Pyotr Petrovitch. His very fresh and even handsome face looked

younger than his forty-five years at all times. His dark,

mutton-chop whiskers made an agreeable setting on both sides,

growing thickly upon his shining, clean-shaven chin.