The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

THE FREEMASONS DAUGHTER. 33 —a lingering confidence in human nature. I have seen you progressing in wealth from day to day; where others failed, you have thriven; difficulties have only led to your advancement—panics have proved your -harvests—famine a source of successful speculation— shipwrecks a double gain—all that you have touched has turned to gold; you have lived so long within its atmosphere, that it has impregnated your very na- ture — your sluggish blood is but the liquid Mam- mon ; all but your heart is gold, and that remains iron —iron !” ** And what has called forth this tirade ?”? demanded his employer, with difficulty restraming his passion ; for it was a bitter humiliation to a man like him, whose nod was looked up to on the Exchange, and whose signature would pass current for a million, to be thus catechised by a drunken clerk. “‘ Conscience,” replied the old man. “‘ Conscience,” repeated Grindem, with a sneer. ‘‘ Pshaw! you have not had sufficient time to sleep off last night’s debauch; the fumes of gin and tobacco still ferment within your brain. Go to your lodgings, and in the afternoon you will return quite sober.” “J am sober—for the first time for many along year: four-and-twenty hours have passed since the liquid devil passed my lips.” *‘ Your credit at the tap, then, I suppose is stopped 2” said his master; “ name the amount and let us end this folly. You know,” he added, “that it is your own VOL. I. D COUN Goo! SS (SO