Very little was definitely known about him.

He was understood to be a gentleman of means and erudite leisure, nor did his appearance conflict with this description.

Now and then Dyce's talk had an impressive quality; he spoke for the most part in brief, pregnant sentences, which seemed the outcome of solid thought and no little experience.

Constance Bride, observing him studiously, often admired his grave, yet easy, bearing, his facile, yet never careless speech.

Herself in doubt as to his real weight, whether as man or politician, she carefully watched the impression he produced on others; on the whole it seemed to be favourable, and once or twice she caught a remark decidedly eulogistic.