Snip] This I agree wholeheartedly with! I see Mr Gardiner as very early bourgeois, and considering Mr Bennet thought he had roughly £10000 on hand to pay Wickhams debts and commission. Not quite as rich as Bingley's father, but getting there. (I even agree about the horses ;))

Mr. Bennet estimates that it would take that much to get Wickham to accept Lydia with her tarnished reputation. Jane and Elizabeth were very concerned that this outlay will be materially detrimental to Mr. Gardiner's own children, which is why Mr. Bennet was so determined to pay him back. Mr. Gardiner may have been able to get access to £10,000 but that doesn’t mean that he had it on hand. He might have had to pledge all or part of his business and property to get that kind of cash.

Still, I don't believe that Wickham got away with £10,000. I believe, based on the text, that Darcy paid considerably less. About £1000 to pay Wickham's debts, £1000 settled on Lydia and £500+ to pay for the commission in the regulars. When Elizabeth said, "How is such a man to be worked on," I think Darcy knew exactly the right combination of bribery threats and of exposure to use. The threat of exposing how Wickham asked for the Ealing living again after being paid £3000 for it alone would have damaged his ability in society to make an advantageous match.

Still, £2500+ is more than Mr. Bennet’s income for a year. They had good reason to be concerned about paying Mr. Gardiner back. His relief at not having to pay Darcy back is understandable.