Good luck in love she said it brought

The front position of the object (“good luck in love”) makes it more prominent.

16. …Richard quickly thrust up the trap…

Richard hurriedly raised the window of the carriage that separated the cabman from the passengers.

17. …it looks as if we are stuck.

The use of the indicative mood after the conjunction “as if” shows that comparison here is treated as a fact. It looks as if we are stuck and we really are. Compare with the Russian “Похоже, что мы застряли.”

18. …it was a good bilin’ of soap.

We have produced a good lot of soap. Being a manufacturer of soap - a soap king—old Mr. Rockwall uses this metaphor to show his satisfaction that good results have been achieved.

I had to go a little above the estimate.

I had to give in payment more than it had been planned.

20. The cops struck me hardest - $50.

The policeman demanded to be paid more than the rest--$50.

21. Your thousand, and the $300 you were out.

Take your thousand for what you have done and the $300 which you have paid out of your own pocket.