The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 325: what you’re looking at

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

294 REYNOLDS’ WORKS of a disagreeable character had occurred betwixt her husband and her brother. It was about eleven o’clock when the viscount’s dashing phaeton was driven around, by the exquisitely dressed groom, from the stables to the front of the mansion. The night was very dark, and the lamps of the vehicle were lighted. Lord Rushbrook, having taken leave of his sister and his brother-in-law, paused for a few moments in the hall to light a cigar, and he then ascended to the box-seat, receiving the whip and reins from the hands of his groom. He was somewhat the worse for the great quantity of wine which he had drunk, and the domestic, if he had dared, would have remonstrated against his master’s undertaking to drive on the occasion, but he knew the viscount’s temper, and accordingly held his peace. His lordship was in rare spirits; he had the two thousand pounds in his pocket, he was elated with wine, he was proud of his beautiful turnout, and the impression of the disagreeable scene with his brother- in-law having now completely worn off, he said to himself, ‘“‘ Since Latham never refuses his money, I sha’n’t hesitate in future in applying to him even oftener than I have hitherto done.”’ The equipage dashed along the avenue toward the gates which were thrown open by the porter, and as the steeds flew through that entrance way, the groom noticed with a shudder how closely the wheel whisked past the iron post. The road upon which they entered was broad and even; the horses knew that they were returning homeward, and they proceeded at a rapid rate. The equipage had scarcely gone a quarter of a mile from the gates, when on turning a some- what sharp corner, the phaeton dashed against a post, and was instantaneously overturned. The groom was stunned, and lay senseless on the road, but as if the adage should be fulfilled which declares “ there is a special providence for drunken men and children,” the vis- count escaped totally unhurt. He was instantaneously upon his feet, and he fancied that a man, wearing some strange white dress, was at the horses’ heads, — to which indeed the stranger had instantaneously rushed, he being on that very spot at the time, so that the wild progress of the animals was arrested. “Thank you, my good fellow,” said Rushbrook, shaking ECORNICLOOKS (E(0)