Mr. Bagley now understood. He broke out in a cold perspiration and he paled visibly. In the hope that the full extent of his plans were not known, he attempted to brazen it out.
“No, certainly not, under no circumstances,” he said.
Ryder, Sr. rang a bell.
“Perhaps she has an engagement with you. We'll ask her.” To the butler, who entered, he said: “Tell Miss Roberts that her father would like to see her here.”
The man disappeared and the senator took a hand in cross-examining the now thoroughly uncomfortable secretary.
“So you thought my daughter looked pale and that a little excursion to Buffalo would be a good thing for her? Well, it won't be a good thing for you, young man, I can assure you of that!”
The English aristocrat began to wilt. His assurance of manner quite deserted him and he stammered painfully as he floundered about in excuses.
“Not with me—oh dear, no,” he said.
“You never proposed to run away with my daughter?” cried the irate father.
“Run away with her?” stammered Bagley.