The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 113: what you’re looking at

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

104 THE FREEMASONS DAUGHTER. ‘“‘ By-the-bye, have you seen the new patient ?*” demanded Mr. Crab. *‘ The old gentleman who just arrived, sir ?”’ Crab gave a nod of assent. “Oh yes, sir; he seems in a bad way.” “ Very.” “ Likely to remain long ?” “TI should judge so.” « Any particular orders respecting him ?” “No; you will treat him with all humanity.” ‘* Certainly, sir.” ‘‘He is an excellent patient—pays well—an ex- tremely interesting case. It will be necessary to pre- vent his communicating with the rest of the people ; solitude will be more beneficial to him than medicine— you understand ?”’ Barnes nodded his head with a knowing grin; he was not duped by his master’s pretended benevolence, although he chose to appear so. ‘Where have you placed him ?”’ ‘¢ In the north ward, sir,” ‘* Bettér remove him to the south, he will be more retired there.” The south was that part of the establishment in which the more outrageous patients were confined; helpless creatures, whose madness was incurable, or whom it was their keeper’s interest to make appear so. The cries which were heard there—the yells and curses— the despairing shrieks and hopeless blasphemies—were comicbooks.corm Fe ——