>betraying the slightest suggestion of a smile. That means simply that the captain was smiling very slightly, probably without intending to. It shows that he thinks Rostov is naive to believe that these are his quarters. [Merriam-Webster "betray"][1] 4a : to reveal unintentionally *betray one's true feelings* The OP has a quotation from "A Gentleman in Moscow" by Amor Towles. [1]: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/betray