The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 266: what you’re looking at

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

THE FREEMASONS DAUGHTER. 259 and invariably yield to what cannot be avoided. I am, as you know, a person of few words, so name your price ?”” | “‘ My price !” repeated Small, rather taken aback by the undiplomatic mode of proceeding ; for he was one of those plausible beings who would, if possible, veil the real nature of his character even from himeelf. ** Ay, your price; you have one ?” Why, the fact is, Mr. Grindem, that of course we have not been so long connected together in business, without my feeling something like pity for the situation —-I may say the peculiarly unfortunate position—in which you are placed.” “ Pity!’ repeated the merchant; “ psha! do you think me gull enough to swallow such fools’ bait? No; were my character ten times blacker than it is, I should still be an object above your pity; for I am rich, Small—rich—and money is power. Leave off this child’s play, and name your terms; what do you re- quire to give up those cursed papers? five thousand pounds ? “ No.” “Ten ?” ** No.” “‘In the fiend’s name, how much then? Be quick, man—consult your conscience,” he added, with a sneer, ‘‘ lest the pliant thing should stretch to a limit beyond even my power to gratify.” Small saw that it would be useless to affect a false 8 2 COniiclooecl SS (SO