The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 294: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE PRIVATE THEATRICALS 261 escorted by Lord Sackville, and as the earl and Editha thus rode home together, a somewhat interesting as well as curious discourse took place between them. Of this, however, we shall say more anon. Meantime let us hasten to state that Sir Douglas Huntingdon and the other guests having all taken their departure, Lord and Lady Sackville withdrew to their own chamber, where they passed the rest of the night together in each other’s arms, but inspired only by the appetite of passion and not by the tenderness of love. The prince had been left sleeping in his chair, but when the domestics aroused him for the purpose of conveying his Royal Highness to his chamber, he repelled their services, overwhelmed them with drunken oaths, and swore that he was as sober as any man in Christendom. Thereupon, one of the lackeys ventured to remind him that the gentleman who had sent the letter was still waiting, and the prince, having some vague and confused idea of the circumstance, declared that he would see Mr. Loftus without delay. But in the meantime was not Jocelyn wearied of thus waiting? Yes, nevertheless he waited still, because he deemed it his duty to see the prince if possible. It was now one o’clock in the morning, more than three hours had passed, and nobody came. Fancying that himself and his note must have alike been forgotten, he was about to ring the bell, when the door suddenly opened. Jocelyn rose on catching sight of the prince, but he was at the same moment struck with stupefaction on observing his Royal Highness. stagger forward a pace or two, then reel sideways, then totter back as if about to fall, then stagger forward again, and then advance with a rolling, reeling, staggering gait, and in a zigzag manner, toward the spot where Jocelyn remained transfixed. The truth became apparent enough,— the: prince regent was in a beastly state of intoxication. Heavens, what a spectacle! His wig was all dishevelled. and awry, pushed completely around upon his head, so that. the wavy curls which were usually worn in front were now just above the right ear; his eyes were bloodshot, his cheeks flushed to a degree that seemed to portend apoplexy, his under jaw hanging down, and thus giving an air of hebeta- tion and stolid vacancy to his countenance. Add to these symptoms the disordered shirt-frill, the waistcoat unbuttoned and covered with vinous stains, and the hands thrust CORAICLOO© SS (C(O)