The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 265: what you’re looking at

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

258 THE FREEMASONS DAUGHTER. CHAPTER XVIII. Why wear a mask ? when it is so transparent The eyes of childhood may peer its texture through, And read the villain’s face beneath. CREON. On Small’s return to the outer office at four o’clock, he found his partner as calm and self-collected as though nothing had previously occurred to ruffle his temper. Despite his assurance, and trust in the power he held over him, the little man felt uneasy at the change. He came prepared to meet storms and reproaches— bursts of ungovernable passion—not the cold, business- like manner in which Grindem met him. ‘‘‘You sent for me, sir?” he observed, involuntarily falling into his usual respectful tone. “I did, Mr. Small, in consequence of our conversa- tion this morning—nay, hear me out,” he added, seeing that he was about to reply; “‘ circumstance has given you a certain power, and, like a man of the world, you are prepared to use it. I, too, am a man of the world, COniiclooecl SS (SO