The next day I was detained at home by an accumulation of clerical work and heavy mails to be gotten off (I had as yet no clerk), but on the return of the men at night they reported a marvelous day’s work.
— from The Red Cross in Peace and War by Clara Barton

As for the cat, he became at once a grand personage, and had never more any need to run after mice, except for his own diversion.
— from The Fairy Book The Best Popular Stories Selected and Rendered Anew by Dinah Maria Mulock Craik

But, though Cranstoun ‘nowise knew who followed him,’ the four men already named, two Ruthvens, a Moncrieff, and Eviot, were in the fray, though there was some uncertainty about Eviot.
— from James VI and the Gowrie Mystery by Andrew Lang

Pray don't ever ask me again not to rob a man of his religious belief, as if you thought my mind tended to such robbery.
— from George Eliot's Life, as Related in Her Letters and Journals. Vol. 2 (of 3) by George Eliot

I was not present, but I had previously warned my assistant not to receive any money.
— from London's Underworld by Thomas Holmes

With thirty or forty black rowers, probably Cabinda men, Maxwell advised navigating the river about May, when the Cacimbo or dry season begins; and with arms, provisions, and merchandize he expected to reach the sources in six weeks.
— from Two Trips to Gorilla Land and the Cataracts of the Congo, Volume 2 by Burton, Richard Francis, Sir

If this doubtful authority is to be exercised by Congress, it should be done in such a manner as not to restore a man properly convicted and sentenced as a deserter, without even the allegation of injustice, to the rights of pay, allowance, and pension belonging to those who faithfully and honorably served in the military service of their country according to the terms of their enlistment.
— from A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents Volume 8, part 2: Grover Cleveland by Grover Cleveland

This said, he made as if he was going away, but came back again from the door to ask something for honest Diego Garcia, the constable, for it was convenient to stop his mouth with a silver gag; something more he hinted at concerning the clerk of the court; saying, “It is in this clerk’s power, Sir, to undo a man by turning up the whites of his eyes, raising his voice, making a noise to rouse a magistrate or recorder when they are asleep, as it often happens, and many other such dangerous actions.”
— from Pablo de Segovia, the Spanish Sharper by Francisco de Quevedo