The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 128: what you’re looking at

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

THE FREEMASONS DAUGHTER. 119 cells, for the temporary accommodation of prisoners while waiting for examination. In one of these he contrived adroitly to hide himself, and, from the crevice of the half-shut door, watch what was going on in the interior. His old employer seemed deeply absorbed in the perusal of some papers on the desk before him, which Ben doubted not were the missing ones. Occasionally the worthy functionary rubbed his hands with glee, as if he rejoiced on some important discovery; at other moments looked puzzled and amazed. ‘If he can’t make them out, I know of no one who can,’ muttered the spy to himself. ‘I wish he would leave them only for a moment—I wish he would leave them !” The wish was no sooner formed, than fortune, as if resolved to indemnify him for the terrors he had under- gone, realised it. From the place of his concealment, Ben saw one of the clerks enter the room, knew by the motion of his lips that he was saying somethng— probably announcing the arrival of the magistrate whose duty it was to sit and hear night charges ; certain it must have been some one of importance; for the pompous Mr. Marjoram, after a gesture of impa- tience, locked the letters in his desk, placed the key on a nail over the chimney piece, on which his watch was hanging, and left the room. To dart from his concealment, force open the window, unlock the desk, and secute the papers, was the work COniiclooecl SS (SO