They imitated his manner; but what was ease or gilded assurance in him was open insolence, or assurance with the gilt rubbed off, in them.

The charm and secret of his manner lay in an utter devotion, which said to every woman, "There's not a woman in the world who can resist me, except you.
Have you the heart to do it ?" Of course this manner was assisted by personal magnetism and beauty.

Wilkes said he was only half an hour behind the handsomest man in the world.

But he would never have overtaken him if the handsome man had been Wilkes.
In his dress Abel was costly and elegant.

With the other men of his day, he read "Pelham" with an admiration of which his life was the witness.
Pelham was the Byronic hero made practicable, purged of romance, and adapted to society.