Jim Stainton's heavy, iron-grey eyebrows came together in a puzzled meeting.

He wore the whole of his beard, which was of iron-grey colour and reached down to his waist.

With age the hair generally assumes an iron-grey hue, as if the decoloration was incomplete.

Instead of a thank-you the man smiled—but only slightly—and shook his iron-grey head—but almost imperceptibly.