The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 227: what you’re looking at

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

220 THE FREEMASONS DAUGHTER. ‘‘There has been murder here!” exclaimed the in- spector, at the same time sending off one of his men to bring down a reinforcement of police; for he knew that the news would spread like wildfire in the popu- lous neighbourhood. ‘*And Flin must be the murderer,” observed the shoemaker ; “or why shut up his place and fly the town, like a thief in the night?” Another now recollected the ruse by which the land- lord had disembarrassed himself of his customers on the evening of the transaction between himself and Small ; and a third, that he had met Flin, just before midnight, close to the railway station.” ‘You must leave the place,” said the inspector, mildly, for he felt that he was unsupported ; “‘ you can give your evidence before the coroner.” But the people showed no disposition to leave the place—on the contrary, their numbers increased every minute ; some began to ransack the cupboards, others to break the chairs and tables, smash the coffee- cups, and commit other senseless and useless devas- tations. It was a great relief to the officer when the arrival of a large body of men, who were accompanied by Mr. Marjoram, made their appearance—he felt that his responsibility was at an end. Under the directions of Marjoram the cellar was soon cleared ; some he threatened, others cajoled, took down the names of those whose evidence was likely ecomnuicloooks (SO