The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 109: what you’re looking at

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

100 THE FREEMASON’S DAUGHTER. The idea suddenly seized him that he was an officer of justice, charged with his arrest; and after a torrent of invective directed against his employer, as usual, he suddenly became calm, and declared his readiness to accompany him to prison. ‘“He had better be removed,” observed Grindem, biting his lip. ‘* Certainly, the hospital? ” “No,” said the merchant, trying to assume a bene- volent look; “to Mr. Crab’s Private Asylum. The poor fellow has been a faithful servant of the firm for nearly thirty years, and the least we can do for him is not to abandon him to the hospital in his affliction.”’ “God bless you, sir!” said the widow, wiping her eyes, for she was struck with admiration at the senti- ment; “you have a kind heart, whatever people may say.” ‘““T hope so, my good woman.” - Tim’s Dick was so deceived by the apparent bene- volence of the offer, that he mentally resolved, on the very first occasion, to do justice to the much maligned character of Gilbert Grindem, Esquire. “There can be no difficulty about the certificate ?”” said the merchant, turning to the medical man. * Certainly not,” replied the juvenile Esculapius. And he signed it directly. The fee was a guinea. Under the illusion that he was really arrested for his complicity in some supposed crime, Gridley suffered replied the obsequious surgeon; “ to ecomnuicloooks (SO