Emilius was well aware that if his tickets
were not paid for in advance, there would be considerable defalcations in
his income. He was, as a rule, very particular as to such payments, and
would not allow a name to be put on a sitting till the money had reached
his pockets; but with Mrs. Carbuncle he had descended to no such
commercial accuracy. Mrs. Carbuncle had seats for three--for one of which
Lady Eustace paid her share in advance--in the midst of the very best pews
in the most conspicuous part of the house, and hardly a word had been said
to her about the money. And now there came to them from Mr. Emilius the
prettiest little gold salver that ever was seen.
"I send Messrs. Clerico's docket," wrote Mr. Emilius, "as Miss Roanoke may
like to know the quality of the metal."
"Ah," said Mrs. Carbuncle, inspecting the little dish and putting two and
two together; "he's got it cheap, no doubt, at the place where they
commissioned him to buy the plate and candlesticks for the church; but at
?3 16s. 3d. the gold is worth nearly twenty pounds." Mr. Emilius no doubt
had had his outing in the autumn through the instrumentality of Mrs.
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