Under ordinary circumstances such a stench would have brought our enterprise to an end; but this was no ordinary case, and the high and terrible purpose in which we were involved gave us a strength which rose above merely physical considerations.
— from Dracula by Bram Stoker

Using these and other similar forms of courteous appeal, we reintroduced all my precious passages under a form which not even the doctor’s watchful materialism could suspect.
— from The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins

Rarity imparts a charm; thus early fruits and winter roses are most prized; thus coyness sets off an extravagant mistress, while a door ever open tempts no suitor.
— from Dictionary of Quotations from Ancient and Modern, English and Foreign Sources Including Phrases, Mottoes, Maxims, Proverbs, Definitions, Aphorisms, and Sayings of Wise Men, in Their Bearing on Life, Literature, Speculation, Science, Art, Religion, and Morals, Especially in the Modern Aspects of Them by Wood, James, Rev.

Independent of all other reasonings upon the subject, it is a full answer to those who require a more peremptory provision against military establishments in time of peace, to say that the whole power of the proposed government is to be in the hands of the representatives of the people.
— from The Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton

But who shall tell the joy of the next morning, when the church bells were ringing a merry peal, and old Benjy appeared in the servants' hall, resplendent in a long blue coat and brass buttons, and a pair of old yellow buckskins and top-boots which he had cleaned for and inherited from Tom's grandfather, a stout thorn stick in his hand, and a nosegay of pinks and lavender in his buttonhole, and led away Tom in his best clothes, and two new shillings in his breeches-pockets?
— from Tom Brown's School Days by Thomas Hughes

The next morning our fort was plann'd and mark'd out, the circumference measuring four hundred and fifty-five feet, which would require as many palisades to be made of trees, one with another, of a foot diameter each.
— from Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin

On Friday, in the dress of a caliph, in the colors of the sect, Saffah proceeded with religious and military pomp to the mosch: ascending the pulpit, he prayed and preached as the lawful successor of Mahomet; and after his departure, his kinsmen bound a willing people by an oath of fidelity.
— from The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Table of Contents with links in the HTML file to the two Project Gutenberg editions (12 volumes) by Edward Gibbon

But Mr. Meredith had said that he hoped his session would be well represented, and Mr. Pryor had evidently taken the request to heart.
— from Rilla of Ingleside by L. M. (Lucy Maud) Montgomery

The superintendent made the Corticelli live in the same house with Redegonde, and Madame Pacienza was left in peace.
— from The Memoirs of Jacques Casanova de Seingalt, 1725-1798. Complete by Giacomo Casanova

From the construction it would seem to indicate the place from which the fool was accustomed to take his leap, but it is possible that the word should be connected with rime , and may perhaps be the translation of a Greek or Latin title for some book of [137] facetiae published about this time.
— from The Devil is an Ass by Ben Jonson

"Something on the heart, my dear sir; I can't get at it; perhaps you can. Take off that something, and the springs will react, and my patient will soon recover.
— from What Will He Do with It? — Volume 11 by Lytton, Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron

The pieces of work to be varnished should be placed near the fire or in a warm room and made perfectly dry, and then the varnish may be applied with a flat camel-hair brush made for the purpose.
— from Handbook on Japanning: 2nd Edition For Ironware, Tinware, Wood, Etc. With Sections on Tinplating and Galvanizing by William Norman Brown

Between 10 or 12 in the forenoon of the next day the conference was renewed and Mr. Pratt then informed me that the Admiral had sent him a telegram in reply to the wish I had expressed for an agreement in writing.
— from True Version of the Philippine Revolution by Emilio Aguinaldo

The former of those savages was the person who remained around my post all last winter, and treated my men so well; they endeavored to excuse their people, etc.
— from The Expeditions of Zebulon Montgomery Pike, Volume 1 (of 3) To Headwaters of the Mississippi River Through Louisiana Territory, and in New Spain, During the Years 1805-6-7. by Zebulon Montgomery Pike

He had remarked that the numerous class of servant girls were almost altogether without religious attendance, moral protection, or material assistance.
— from The War Upon Religion Being an Account of the Rise and Progress of Anti-Christianism in Europe by Francis A. (Francis Aloysius) Cunningham

Hence, we should beautify, when required and make pleasing to the sight; modify and make pleasant to the hearing; cleanse and purify to make agreeable to the smelling; improve and make good to the taste; and never violate the feelings whenever any or all of these are at our will or control.
— from Official Report of the Niger Valley Exploring Party by Martin Robison Delany

It was evident now that if one clerk was to be suspected of creating the "losses" which occurred in his department, several were to be suspected, and the partner finally coincided with Redding and Mr. Phillips, who had finally given his judgment in favor of the plan of thorough change, and they proceeded to put their plan in execution, by dismissing ten clerks at first, and employing ten new ones in their places, which was done.
— from Knots Untied; Or, Ways and By-ways in the Hidden Life of American Detectives by George S. McWatters

I could not keep my eyes off the beautiful woman, beautiful indeed, though it was evident she had been through some terrible ordeal—the melting fires which refine, and make perfect.
— from Fighting Byng: A Novel of Mystery, Intrigue and Adventure by A. Stone