there was a certain art to that , which only the well-born possessed ; managing to be utterly insolent , as if they 'd yelled `` cock , piss , cunt '' at you , yet without putting a foot wrong there was nothing you could call them out on , if anything , they were over-correct , over-polite , over-subordinate , but you knew as well as if they 'd smacked you in the face that they despised you .