he was not an attractive man , but despite his constant search for approval , if not applause , he was completely in charge-the wealthy host whose abrupt silences caused the others to wait for his next words.. latham , his appearance altered by horn-rimmed glasses , paste don full eyebrows and a mustache , glanced at karin , equally unrecognizable in the dim candlelight with her pale face unmade up and her hair sternly pulled back into a hostile bun .