"You are a bird of passage." "A little heavy on the wing--now," said Steinmetz.
He laid his newspaper down on his stout knees and looked at De Chauxville over his gold eye-glasses.

He did not attempt to conceal the fact that he was wondering what this man wanted with him.

The baron seemed to be wondering what object Steinmetz had in view in getting stout.

He suspected some motive in the obesity.
"Ah!" he said deprecatingly.

"That is nothing.