If this wealth had been acquired by conspicuous ingenuity, with just a pleasant little spice of illegality about it, all the better.

This aristocracy was "fast," and not averse to ostentation.
The aristocracy of the Antiques ignored the aristocracy of the Parvenus; the Parvenus laughed at the Antiques, (and secretly envied them.) There were certain important "society" customs which one in Laura's position needed to understand.

For instance, when a lady of any prominence comes to one of our cities and takes up her residence, all the ladies of her grade favor her in turn with an initial call, giving their cards to the servant at the door by way of introduction.

They come singly, sometimes; sometimes in couples; and always in elaborate full dress.

They talk two minutes and a quarter and then go.