Here is a truism of which Lady Fonteyn—as she frequently prefers to be known—is fond: a man who does not knock upon a door has well-served himself with whatever he finds behind it. In this instance,

Something-or-Other Rossi has a brother, who has a cousin, whose husband is a noted jeweler. He is presently sat before Veronica's desk, appraising what looks suspiciously like the ring Desi had presented her with prior to their marriage through what she is certain is not in fact called a monocle, but might as well be, and there is a split second where she considers the many different ways she might handle this situation and settles upon: holding up a finger to the open door, her attention remaining on Messere the Jeweler, who is saying, apologetically,

“The piece itself is of little consequence, Lady Fonteyn, but the stone might fetch you a fair price.”

“Well, and so will your appraisal, messere,” she says, sunnily. Less so: “Desidério, you do not have an appointment.”

(He never has an appointment.)