The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 97: what you’re looking at

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

88 THE FREEMASONS DAUGHTER. Marjoram hastily opened the envelope, and saw that it contained a letter and a long statement, or species of memorandum, drawn up and signed ‘‘ Simon Gridley.” “All right! ”’ he exclaimed. *‘ They are the papers, then?”’ said the poor woman, who began to regret the act of imprudence, and feel a vague uneasiness at the anticipation of the consequences. “‘ They are the papers,” emphatically replied the officer. «* And what are they about ?” ‘Business. Good day!” ‘ But what am I to say to Tim?” “ Refer him to me.” “Only explain ”— ‘‘ Nothing,” said the officer. ‘‘ You have received your reward. As I told you, they are merely com- mercial papers, which old Gridley, in some mad freak or another, abstracted from his employers’ office, and which your husband, from a mistaken fidelity, would have guarded. Ifyou are wise, you will keep him in the dark with respect to the transaction as long as possible.” With these words Marjoram put the packet in his pocket, with a self-satisfied air, buttoned up his coat, and left the little garden in front of the cottage. Many a curious neighbour was peeping at him from their half-closed doors, or over the blinds; for, as we said before, he was as well known in Manchester as the Infirmary clock, or the bow-window of the Exchange. ecomnuicloooks (SO