The colonel’s weary demeanor conceals latent predatory alertness and cunning

Evidence

There was a lunge of abrupt and piercing life in that look, then the eyes were immediately veiled by a kind of whitish film and withdrew under the heavy lids; the expression became that of fatigue, but cunning withal, and concessive: behind this hooded falcon’s immobility, the talons were clearly in readiness. — Julien Gracq, Balcony in the Forest, 30

Categorization

• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Julien Gracq, Balcony in the Forest, 30