When Daniel spoke to him in fluent Swahili, the wooden mask of his face cracked into a huge white smile.

The impassive masks of the envoys cracked the tiniest fraction with shock, as if they had no idea that someone might actually challenge them.

The stoic mask cracked and crumbled from pain and weariness.

He smiled then, and it was as if some mask cracked to show us one of kin.

The mask cracked a little into a frown.

The mask had cracked, and his beloved face was smiling broadly.

The Lord's mask cracked for a moment, and he jerked his head.

"I expected you would say that," Emerson replied, his sandy mask cracking in a fond smile.

For a moment the mask cracked, and the general's face looked almost human.

For once his blank mask had cracked, and what was revealed was contempt.