The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 250: what you’re looking at

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

THE FREEMASON’S DAUGHTER. — 243 weped his mouth with his handkerchief and carefully put et on hes pocket. Barnes and his master exchanged an uneasy glance with each other. “© Murder—murder !” groaned the maniac, for such at the’moment, the clerk really was, “I did not do it. There’s one above knows all. Don’t look so strangely, Lawrence, at me, I did not do it! Richard dead—his father dead! Well, well, if I must hang, Grindem shall swing with me. Ha, ha, ha!” headded. ‘How the fiends will laugh to see Dives and Lazarus both on the same gibbet.” “‘Are you convinced?’ demanded Crab, addressing his visitors. “ Perfectly,” replied Mr. Keeting; but his com- panion remained silent. “ Do you know us?”’ demanded the former. ‘Ah!’ shrieked the wretched victim of the dene- volent Mr. Crab’s villany and his doctor’s skill; ‘the execution. Well, it will soon be over. Don’t put me to much pain. I shall not resist; for in the grave I shall be at peace —peace—peace !” A shout of idiot laughter followed, and then a rush of incoherent words, mingled with prayers and impre- cations. ‘“‘Qur presence indeed seems to excite him,”’ observed Mr. Mordaunt, with difficulty mastering his emotion. “This is a very fearful scene. We had better leave him to.the skzll of those who best know how to treat him.” R 2 COniiclooecl SS (SO