I Forbid the Banns! — page 329: what you’re looking at

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

ON SOME FORMS OF IMPUDENCE., 319 They are—damn scoundrels. Have you seen Mr. Charl- ton here?” ‘“‘T have just been looking for him. He is out of sight somewhere. I wasn’t thinking of him.” ‘Of whom, then ?” ‘“ Pardon me, Sir Ecroyd,’ said Charlie. “That is my business.”’ “It is—it is indeed,” said the minister. “ You think that that person said something that was hurtful to Mrs Charlton?” “ He looked equal to it,” said Charlie. ‘ A damn skunk of a chap with oily hair and a diamond stud about the size of a masthead light. What would a chap stick at that has a snuffle like a boiler waste-pipe when the winch is working ?” ‘“ Nothing,” replied the minister. ‘‘ Don’t makea scene, whatever you do. Think what it would be to have Mrs. Charlton’s name associated with a scene.” “T flatter myself on not having quite reached the drivel- ing stage of idiocy,’’ said Charlie. ‘ You may depend on ‘my doing nothing that will compromise a lady whom I respect with all the devotion of-——”’ “The word of a British officer,” said Sir Ecroyd, “ is enough for me. What is your ship?” “ The Bluebottle, sir.” “The Bluebottle. You may depend on my remembering it. Lord Gerald dines with me on Saturday.” Up went Charlie’s right forefinger to an imaginary cap peak. | Sir Ecroyd was only a cabinet minister, but Charlie could not have treated him with greater respect if he had been the navigating lieutenant of a corvette. Lord Gerald was First Lord of the Admiralty. CONNIELOOKS (€(0)