He girt his sword about the loins, well out of the mud; walked always with a thick bamboo in his hand; Steady, not slow of step; with his triangular hat, cream-white round wig (in his older days), and face tending to purple,--the eyes looking out mere investigation, sharp swift authority, and dangerous readiness to rebuke and set the cane in motion:--it was so he walked abroad in this earth; and the common run of men rather fled his approach than courted it.
For, in fact, he was dangerous; and would ask in an alarming manner, "Who are you ?" Any fantastic, much more any suspicious-looking person, might fare the worse.

An idle lounger at the street-corner he has been known to hit over the crown; and peremptorily despatch: "Home, Sirrah, and take to some work!" That the Apple-women be encouraged to knit, while waiting for custom;--encouraged and quietly constrained, and at length packed away, and their stalls taken from them, if unconstrainable,--there has, as we observed, an especial rescript been put forth; very curious to read.

[In Rodenbeck, _Beitrage,_ p.

15.] Dandiacal figures, nay people looking like Frenchmen, idle flaunting women even,--better for them to be going.

"Who are you ?" and if you lied or prevaricated (_"Er blicke mich gerade an,_ Look me in the face, then!"), or even stumbled, hesitated, and gave suspicion of prevaricating, it might be worse for you.