Answer: He is mysterious and has probably led a hard life.
In this excerpt of "The Chrysanthemums," we learn a little bit about the man. The narrator tells us that he only seemed happy when he was laughing. Whenever he stopped, his eyes were dark and threatening. He looked like a sailor or someone with a similar life. His hands were cracked and his hat was battered. He gives the reader the impression of being a man who has often faced difficult circumstances. He also appears to be mysterious.