Commodore Junk — page 184: what you’re looking at

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

THE PEST OF THE WEST. 177 were a set of old women, and that it was all nonsense about Commodore Junk ; and for some months longer nothing was done. Then came such an angry clamour and such lengthy accounts of the crimes the buccaneer had committed that the Government concluded that they must do something, and gave their orders accordingly. The result was that one day Captain Humphrey Armstrong walked along the Mall in his big boots, which creaked loudly over the gravel. The gold lace on his uniform glittered in the sunshine ; and as he wore his cocked hat all on one side, and rested his left hand upon the hilt of his sword, which hung awkwardly across him, mixed up with the broad skirts of his coat, he looked as fine and gallant a specimen of humanity as was to be found in the king’s service. The officers of the king’s guards, horse and foot, stared at him, and more than one pair of bright eyes rested with satis- faction on the handsome, manly face, as the captain went along smiling with satisfaction and apparently conceit. It was with the former, not the latter, for the captain was on his way to St. James’s Square, to keep an appointment at Lord Loganstone’s, and before long he was in earnest converse with Lady Jenny Wildersey, his lordship’s youngest daughter, one of the most fashionable beauties of her day. “Yes,” said the captain, after nearly half an hour's pre- liminary conversation. “It is in the course of duty, and I must go.” “La!” said her ladyship, with a very sweet smile. ‘ But couldn’t you send someone else?” “« At the call of duty!” cried the captain. “No. Besides, you would not wish me to stay under such circumstances as those.” “La!” said her ladyship, as, after a show of resistance, she surrendered her lily-white hand, and suffered it to be kissed. “vse Gomilcbooks