If she had had the presence of mind to let Rosedale drive her to the station, the concession might have purchased his silence.

He had his race's accuracy in the appraisal of values, and to be seen walking down the platform at the crowded afternoon hour in the company of Miss Lily Bart would have been money in his pocket, as he might himself have phrased it.

He knew, of course, that there would be a large house-party at Bellomont, and the possibility of being taken for one of Mrs.Trenor's guests was doubtless included in his calculations.
Mr.Rosedale was still at a stage in his social ascent when it was of importance to produce such impressions.
The provoking part was that Lily knew all this--knew how easy it would have been to silence him on the spot, and how difficult it might be to do so afterward.

Mr.Simon Rosedale was a man who made it his business to know everything about every one, whose idea of showing himself to be at home in society was to display an inconvenient familiarity with the habits of those with whom he wished to be thought intimate.

Lily was sure that within twenty-four hours the story of her visiting her dress-maker at the Benedick would be in active circulation among Mr.Rosedale's acquaintances.