From Correct Social Usage, V. II. "Men do not wear their gloves to the dinner table nor into the drawing-room; they leave their gloves with their hats and coats in the hall or dressing-room. 388.

 

According to this, Silas actually was in the right to wear gloves, but, as became the standard order for this tragic night, he went too far and wore them for too long.This sadly establishes Silas's awkwardness in this social setting, but his quick recovery also helps to show him to be a resilient and adaptable social creature. This minor mistake, in allowing Corey to see him wearing gloves at an inappropriate time, shall also be kept under wraps because of the gentleman's code, that makes Corey's crowing over any of his friends, mistakes verboten.