babs then pointed out what they all knew ( or thought they knew ) : that polly had been the first person in town to actually enter the new shop , and that she had brought a cake perhaps , babs speculated , she knew mr. gaunt ... from that time before , that time she had spent away cyndi rose expressed interest in a lalique vase , and asked mr gaunt ( who was nearby but did not hover , all noted with approval ) how much it was `` how much do you think ? ''