Carbuncle exact payment of such a debt in any established court; but she
inveighed bitterly against the meanness of Mrs. Smith, telling the story
openly, and never feeling that she had told it against herself. In her set
it was generally thought that she had done quite right.
She managed better with old Mr. Cabob, who had certainly received many of
Mrs. Carbuncle's smiles, and who was very rich. Mr. Cabob did as he was
desired, and sent a check--a check for ?20; and added a message that he
hoped Miss Roanoke would buy with it some little thing that she liked.
Miss Roanoke, or her aunt for her, liked a thirty guinea ring, and bought
it, having the bill for the balance sent up to Mr. Cabob. Mr. Cabob, who
probably knew that he must pay well for his smiles, never said anything
about it.
Lady Eustace went into all this work, absolutely liking it. She had felt
nothing of anger even as regarded her own contribution, much as she had
struggled to reduce the amount. People, she felt, ought to be sharp; and
it was nice to look at pretty things, and to be cunning about them. She
would have applied to the Duke of Omnium had she dared, and was very
triumphant when she got the smelling-bottle from Lady Glencora.
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