The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 127: what you’re looking at

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

118 THE FREEMASONS DAUGHTER. By midnight all my customers will be gone. You have been here very often, Ben,” he added, “ but you don’t know all the secrets of the cellar.” After taking another glass of the fiery beverage, Ben buttoned up his coat and started for the police-office, concocting, on his way, an excuse for asking an inter- view with Mr. Marjoram, who was busily occupied in his private room, inspecting the letters, when one of his subordinates announced that the Hack, as he was familiarly called, was anxious to speak with him. “Tam busy,” said the great man, with an air of impatient dignity; “can’t see any one—not even the town clerk.” *¢ Shall he wait ?” “* No—yes—what the deuce do I care whether he waits or not: he can do as he pleases; leave me, and mind that I am not interrupted again !” ** Busy with papers,” muttered Ben, as he received the message ; and he felt reassured at the thought, for it confirmed his hopes that they were not out of his possession ; “I shall have them yet.” Being well known to the officials, he was permitted to lounge carelessly about the establishment, no one deeming it worth his while either to watch or take notice of his whereabouts. In the course of a short time he found himself in _ alittle yard at the back of the office, into which the window of the room where Marjoram was sitting opened. Directly opposite to it were a row of narrow ecomnuicloooks (SO