] And wouldn't it have been in bad taste then (as is now) to go around bragging about the cost of furnishings?

] Please enlighten me.

Likely niether of the gentlemen would have said anything. But the servants are likely to dispense information. Or a local lawyer. Anyone who would know Bingley's income - news is news. It is not in bad taste to discuss it as a cursory fact - but it should have been done more subtley by Mrs. B.

I believe in Persuasion it is from the inkeeper through Mr. Elliot's servant that the find out Mr. Elliot is related to them. The servant has no compunction about bragging about his master. It is a matter of his own status.

Everyone talks of money in P&P - they all know and discuss how much Mary King has inherited. I don't find that rude - just interesting. I think it is all in how the information is discussed - whether with arrogance or malice.