Page 1189 - les-miserables

CHAPTER I

THE SOBRIQUET: MODE

OF FORMATION OF

FAMILY NAMES

Marius was, at this epoch, a handsome young man, of
medium stature, with thick and intensely black hair, a lofty
and intelligent brow, well-opened and passionate nostrils,
an air of calmness and sincerity, and with something inde-
scribably proud, thoughtful, and innocent over his whole
countenance. His profile, all of whose lines were rounded,
without thereby losing their firmness, had a certain Ger-
manic sweetness, which has made its way into the French
physiognomy by way of Alsace and Lorraine, and that com-
plete absence of angles which rendered the Sicambres so
easily recognizable among the Romans, and which distin-
guishes the leonine from the aquiline race. He was at that
period of life when the mind of men who think is composed,
in nearly equal parts, of depth and ingenuousness. A grave
situation being given, he had all that is required to be stu-
pid: one more turn of the key, and he might be sublime. His

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