This was an article not to be entered on by himself; but a very intimate friend of his, a Colonel Wallis, a highly respectable man, perfectly the gentleman, (and not an ill-looking man, Sir Walter added), who was living in very good style in Marlborough Buildings, and had, at his own particular request, been admitted to their acquaintance through Mr Elliot, had mentioned one or two things relative to the marriage, which made a material difference in the discredit of it.
Colonel Wallis had known Mr Elliot long, had been well acquainted also with his wife, had perfectly understood the whole story.
"Colonel Wallis had been so impatient to be introduced to them!
Wallis sent them by her boy; they are extremely civil and obliging to us, the Wallises, alwaysI have heard some people say that Mrs.
Wallis does them full justiceonly we do not have them baked more than twice, and Mr.