The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 330: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRILLIANT ENTERTAINMENT 299 Sagoonah. She nevertheless urged Christina to accept the invitation, while Mr. Redcliffe had by a sign intimated to Christian that he also was to respond in the affirmative. Thus, although Sir Frederick had failed to obtain the presence of Queen Indora at his mansion, he had nevertheless suc- ceeded in respect to the young brother and sister, whose personal beauty was of so exceedingly interesting a character, and who could not therefore fail to create a sensation. But Sir Frederick did not choose to enter into these full explana- tions with his wife, Lady Anastatia; he never suffered her to perceive the amount of pains he took to render his enter- tainments so brilliant, attractive, and varied, that they should even excite the envy of the patrician guests who might be present at them. At about nine o’clock in the evening there was a continu- ous line of carriages rolling along the avenue of Sir Fred- erick’s grounds, and setting down the fashionably apparelled suests at the mansion. The edifice itself was a perfect blaze of light, and all the arrangements were upon a scale which denoted an utter disregard for expense. Sir Frederick was indeed immensely rich, and the sum of money which such an entertainment as this might cost him was an insignificant out- lay when considered in reference to his means. The brilliant saloons were soon crowded with guests, amongst whom were what might be termed the aristocracy of the commercial world, as well as a considerable assemblage of members of the patrician aristocracy itself. Lord and Lady Fordwich were prevented by indisposition from appearing at this entertainment, but Viscount Rush- brook was there. This nobleman had for the last few days been resolving in his mind a thousand pretexts for making another draw upon the merchant’s purse, but he had as yet failed to hit upon any plan which might reasonably account for an application following so close on the heels of the former one. Nevertheless, it was absolutely necessary for the viscount to obtain fifteen hundred or a thousand pounds with the shortest possible delay; for not being himself a peer, nor even a member of the House of Commons, he was unprotected against arrest, and he knew that there was a warrant out for his apprehension on account of an unpaid bond which had just fallen due. To be incarcerated would prove his ruin; it would bring all his difficulties to the EOMINGIOOKS (GO) im