form and feature, standing at my side. His face wore an
expression of indescribable eloquence. As familiar as he
afterward became to me, I can never forget the first
impression which that magnificent human being made upon my
mind, as he stood there--radiating a power that I felt to
the tips of my fingers. What favored son of man was this
confronting me, born to such an inheritance of majesty and
grace? I asked myself, regarding him with amazement. He had
eyes dark as night, set under a broad forehead, about which
wavy masses of tawny hair fell gracefully. His stately form
was erect and firm as a statue. For a moment his eyes looked
into mine; then he advanced and took my hand. Tenderly he
pressed it to his lips, stepping back as he did so and
looking at me with a half-curious, half-amused expression. I
was so startled by the unexpected appearance of this
remarkable figure that I had not, until now, noticed that a
large lion had followed him into the room and was lying
quietly at his feet. I was not afraid; indeed, the king of
beasts seemed but a part of the man's masterful presence. I
do not think I would have seen the animal but that his
enormous body was lying directly before my eyes on the
floor. My uncle had been sitting with his head resting upon
his hand at the table. Suddenly he rose and a strange,
guttural sound--it may have been a word from some language
wholly unfamiliar to me--passed his lips. The young man
immediately left us, the lion following closely at his
heels. We both sat in silence for some moments after he had
gone. My mind had felt strange exhilaration in his presence,
and I rubbed my eyes to make sure that I was not dreaming.
When I looked at my uncle the sad expression on his face had