Well, the present machination, here it is.
"The Lesser Bourgeoisie"
Honore de Balzac
Therefore, when I came upon your big outfit upon the very threshold of MacNair's domain, I thought, of course, this was some new machination of the brute.
"The Gun-Brand"
James B. Hendryx
It was as though the corner of a curtain had been raised, giving him a glimpse of all the vile greed, the base machination, hovering about this fortune that Jane was to inherit.
"The Nether World"
George Gissing