My lord himself had been visible, displaying his array of provisions to friends.

Nor was credulity damped appreciably when over the shop, in gold letters, appeared the name of Sarah Winch.
It might be the countess's maiden name, if she really was a married countess.
But, in truth, the better informed of the town, having begun to think its Croesus capable of any eccentricity, chose to believe.

They were at the pitch of excitement which demands and will swallow a succession of wilder extravagances.

To accelerate the delirium of the fun, nothing was too much, because any absurdity was anticipated.

And the earl's readiness to be complimented on the shop's particular merits, his gratified air at an allusion to it, whirled the fun faster.