I Forbid the Banns! — page 338: what you’re looking at

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

328 ‘“T FORBID THE BANNS!” “Great Admiral! You have never heard of the AZol/y- mawk—Mediterranean squadron ? ”’ “ T’m ashamed to say that I never did.” ‘And you are something in the government ?” “Something. The Aollymawk. Good-night to you.” He moved away before Charlie could raise his barked knuckles in the direction of his forehead. The lad remained pensive for a few minutes. Then he gradually realized that the interview which he had just had with the Minister of Annexation was the most important in which he had ever had a share. The interviews which he had had with naval dignitaries did not invariably leave a satisfactory impression when they had passed. Here, however, was a dignitary who, though he had not attained to the brass button and cocked hat degree of eminence, was still regarded as occupying a respectable position, and the result of the interview with him was of a most pleasing nature. “Unless he’s the most confounded sneak in the world, I’m a made man,” said Charlie. He executed a few steps of a graceful dance known as the hornpipe, and then became suddenly thoughtful. The night was getting on, the ices would not last forever. The soup stage was approaching—soup in cups. He made a very wry face in anticipation of this period of decadence, and went off to secure another ice—not pineapple—while yet there was time. He succeeded. The demand for ices had become languid. He was helped to one that was not quite so solid as it might have been: It was his seventh. It was very refreshing. Then he wondered if there was any champagne cup handy. (EONNIELNOOL KS (€()