He was in evening dress, and I thought him a rather fine and stately creature.

There were about twenty-five gentlemen present; educated men, men moving in good society, none of them commonplace; some of them were men of distinction, none of them were obscurities.

They were his cordial friends and admirers.

It was "Sir Roger," always "Sir Roger," on all hands; no one withheld the title, all turned it from the tongue with unction, and as if it tasted good.
For many years I had had a mystery in stock.

Melbourne, and only Melbourne, could unriddle it for me.