The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 351: what you’re looking at

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

320 REYNOLDS’ WORKS hear him, or at least did not understand. It was a sudden sickness, a dizziness that seized upon me, — something at supper which disagreed with me —’’ “It is indeed provoking,” ejaculated Christian. ‘‘ So daring a robbery —”’ ‘He robbed you then? ”’ ejaculated Rushbrook. “Of my purse, which contained some twelve or fifteen pounds. For that I care comparatively nothing, but the annoyance of letting the rufhan escape —”’ “ Well, all I can say, my dear fellow,’ responded the viscount, ‘‘ is that I could not help it, and I am exceedingly sorry for it. I repeat, it was a sudden dizziness that came over me. And I say, be so kind, Mr. Ashton, as to keep the matter a secret, for people are so malicious in this world, they may put a wrong construction on the affair; they may pretend that I was afraid, and I should get un- mercifully laughed at.” ‘“T really have no inclination to say anything that could annoy your lordship,”’ responded our hero, ‘‘ and perhaps, too, I am not altogether satisfied with myself in having let the rufhan go. But what was that ejaculation which burst from your lordship’s lips? Had the man robbed ou?” ‘“‘ Did I say so? ” asked the viscount, not being previously aware that in the sudden excitement of the moment he had thus betrayed that incident. ‘Why, my lord,” said the groom, now speaking for the first time, “‘ it must be the same person dressed 1n white — ”’ ‘‘ Ah, who tried to rob me the other night? ”’ interjected Rushbrook. ‘‘ That was what I meant. But one’s ideas get so confused when anything of this sort happens.” ‘Very confused indeed, my lord,” said the groom, with a certain dryness which showed he thought that his master was not altogether speaking the truth in some way or another, — an impression which Christian likewise enter- tained, though he could not possibly conceive what motive Rushbrook might have for such prevarication and sellf- contradiction. “ Well, at all events, Mr. Ashton,” said the viscount, anxious to make an end of the matter, “‘ we agree to keep it secret. And pray, above all things, don’t say a word when next you go to Tudor House, for my sister would be ECORNICLIOOKS (E(0)