'i was so eager for someone to go there , ' he confessed before he left london 'i was so eager for something to happen and of course i felt i could n't go and so i thought , well , maybe that strange young texan will crack through that wall ' langtry was nearing seventy-four years of age at this time , a tall , gaunt man with iron gray hair , a rectangular face , and sunken eyes he had an extremely pleasant speaking voice and meticulous manners he had the usual minor infirmities of old age , but , all things considered , he was in good health .