The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 314: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXIII THE LORD AND THE MERCHANT SHORTLY after five o’clock a very elegant phaeton and pair dashed up to the entrance of Tudor House. This equipage belonged to Viscount Rushbrook, and his lordship himself was driving it, a groom in an elegant livery being seated by his side. The viscount was smoking a cigar, and his whole appearance was of that dissipated, rakish, devil-may-care kind which denoted the spendthrift and the improvident one. He was five or six years older than his sister Anastatia; he was tall and well formed, he had dark hair, an aristocratic profile, and good features, but as we have just hinted, the traces of dissipation were upon his countenance. He was moreover thoroughly heartless and unprincipled; he would sacrifice a friend at any moment if it suited his interests, or if his pecuniary wants had to be supplied. He cared not for sister nor for parents, but yet he was an accomplished hypocrite, and at any time, to gain his own ends, could simu- late the utmost fraternal love or filial affection. From his very boyhood he had been reckless and extravagant; his proceedings at college had helped to make considerable in- roads upon the already dilapidated income of his father the Farl of Fordwich, and it was whispered that on more occa- sions than one had he since the attainment of his majority been compelled to leave the country for a time until his debts were settled. Such was Anastatia’s brother, Robert Viscount Rush- brook. When the equipage dashed up in grand style to the front of the mansion, the viscount tossed the reins to his groom on one side, and tossed the cigar from his mouth on the other; he then stood for a few moments to admire his splendid pair of horses, which were steaming on account of 283 CoOnnicloookKks (C(O)