The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

34 THE FREEMASONS DAUGHTER. fault if ever you want the means of making yourself comfortable—that 18, IN reason.” The merchant, perfectly assured that Gridley had only sought the interview for the purpose of obtaining money, drew out his purse as he spoke, and began counting- out the gold; he had proceeded as far as ten, fully expecting that the clerk would stop him with the usual ‘¢ That will do, sir”; indeed, the old man’s demands upon his generosity seldom exceeded five. Finding that he remained silent, Gilbert looked up in his visi- tor’s face, and was struck by his altered expression. He felt this time that money was not the object of his visit, and his heart sank within him; he had rather, much rather, it had been for gold, dearly as he loved it, and deeply as it grieved him to part even with a smali part of his vast accumulations. ** In the devil’s name,” he exclaimed, thrusting his purse into his pocket, “‘ what is it you require ?” “<A simple answer to a simple question,—have you a conscience ¢”’ , ** Rascal !’? said Gilbert, raised to perfect fury by the question ; “‘ had I not had a conscience, I should years since have rid myself of a drunken extortionate villain, who has been the plague of my existence, whose maudlin remorse slumbers when the tap runs freely, and is troublesome only when his credit is stopped. What fresh demand have you to make either on my forbearance or my purse ?”’ ** Rid yourself of me,” repeated the old man; “ ay, ecomnuicloooks (SO