The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 262: what you’re looking at

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

THE FREEMASONS DAUGHTER. 255 on atonement and exposure ; he knew him too well for that: st was the price he should have to pay for his stlence that-distressed him; he knew it would be fearful. A doubt that Small had his price never once entered his head; for he was about the last man in the world to risk a thousand pounds for the mere satisfaction of @ virtuous action. ““T must submit to the extortionate rascal,’’ he mur- mured; “no help for it now—no help for it now.” The words had scarcely passed his lips when the door of the room was pushed rudely open, and Matthew Small, with a cigar in his mouth, entered. The usual cringing air of the fellow was changed for a coarse look of disdain. A bitter smile passed over the lips of Gilbert as he noticed the alteration in his manner: it was a foretaste of what he had to expect. “Well?” he demanded. “‘ These invoices to sign,” replied Matthew, at the same time pufling out a cloud of smoke; ‘‘ they ought to have been sent off an hour ago.” ‘“And why did you not send them?” mildly de- manded the merchant. ‘Something else to do,’ answered the young man with a grin. | ‘Take them to your father,” said Grindem, with difficulty repressing an inclination to knock him down, so much did he feel provoked by his insulting manner. *‘ Father’s gone home.” ec@nicboaol SS (SO