He smiled, showing a set of very white, strong teeth.
"That depends on Mr. Middlebrook," he said. "If Mr. Middlebrook behaves like a good and reasonable boy—Mr. Middlebrook," he went on, interrupting himself and turning on me with a direct look, "a plain question? Are you armed?"
"Armed!" I retorted scornfully. "Do you think I carry a revolver on an innocent country stroll?"
"We do!" he answered with another smile. "You see, we don't know with whom we may meet. It was a million to one—perhaps more—against our meeting anybody this afternoon, yet—we've met you."
"We are sorry to have interrupted you," I said, not without a touch of satirical meaning. "We won't interrupt any longer if you will permit us to say good-day."
I motioned to Miss Raven to follow me, and made to move. But Baxter laughed a little and shook his head.
"I'm not sure that we can allow that, just yet," he said. "It is unfortunate—I offer a thousand apologies to Miss Raven, but business is business, and—"
"Do you mean to tell me that you intend to interfere with our movements, just because you chance to find us here?" I demanded. "If so—"
"Don't let us quarrel or get excited," he said, with another wave of his hand. "I have said that no harm shall come to you—a little temporary inconvenience, perhaps, but—however, excuse me for a moment."
He stepped back to his companion; together they began to whisper, occasionally glancing at us.