“What are you doing with that young lady?” asked Thurley harshly.
“That is no business of yours,” answered Dick. “By what authority have you forced your way into my house?”
Thurley was about to answer, but the police-officer with him spoke instead, in a conciliatory tone.
“You see, sir, we’ve got a search-warrant.”
And he produced a document at which Dick glanced hastily.
“Very well,” he said shortly. “But you won’t find any one here!”
“I hope not, sir,” said the man, touching his hat and stepping back.
Meanwhile Thurley, a good deal agitated by the discovery of Freda’s presence, was trying to persuade her to let him send her back to the Abbey at once. She refused simply but firmly; and turning her back upon him, went straight to Dick, who had withdrawn a little from the group. Thurley went up to him.
“If you have any of the feelings of a man,” he said, “which perhaps is not likely, you will persuade this young lady to go back to her friends.”
“I am with one of them now,” cried Freda, clinging to Dick’s arm.