The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 173: what you’re looking at

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

164 THE FREEMASONS DAUGHTER. after his visitor, and pointed to a seat. It was evident from his manner that he suspected the nature of his Visit. In an instant Small’s ear was glued to the broken pane. “ Now,” said Grindem, as soon as he was seated, ‘‘what is your business ? ” “Something I want to sell,”’ replied Flin, boldly. ‘‘Sell!”’ repeated the merchant—“ sell! In that case you had better apply to my partner, Mr. Small ; I seldom trouble myself with the casual transactions of the firm. What is it,” he added, seeing that the man continued to regard him with a cool, impudent, easy air; * houses, lands or merchandise ?”’ ‘‘ Neither houses, land or merchandise.” “What the devil is it, then?” continued the old man, impatiently; for he began to feel nervously fidgetty at the speaker’s manner. *‘ Character, safety, liberty—all that you ought to prize! *’ ‘‘ Character?” faltered Grindem. ‘‘ Ay: I have in my possession certain letters, and the confession of your old clerk, Gridley—the poor fellow whom you have so cleverly shut up m a mad- house. A deep move, that: an ordinary villain would have knocked his brains out; but you are not an ordinary one.” ‘¢ And you have those papers ?” ‘‘ Every one of them.” ‘You are mistaken in their value,” said the mer- COniiclooecl SS (SO