OE


The people who disliked the spy thought his demeanor was "taciturn," meaning reserved or uncommunicative, or "brusque," meaning abrupt or blunt. Because those descriptors are given from the people who dislike the spy, look for words that describe those same qualities in a more neutral, or even positive, manner. "Histrionic" and "melodramatic" are a great pair, but, as is so often the case, they mean exactly the opposite of what the blank needs: overly theatrical and exaggerated. "Hirsute" is a tough word that actually means hairy, and there's nothing to suggest that the spy is feeling "melancholic," or sad. That leaves just two words. "Phlegmatic" means calm, cool, and collected, and "dispassionate" means unemotional and composed; both are more positive versions of "taciturn or brusque."