Royal Bryant was not very much surprised by this abrupt information and interference with their movements.
What Edith had said to him, just before getting out of the train, had suggested the possibility of such an incident, consequently he was not thrown off his guard, as he might otherwise have been.
At the same time he flushed up hotly, and, confronting the officer with flashing eyes, remarked, with freezing hauteur:
"I do not understand you, sir. I think you have made a mistake; this lady is under my protection."
"But I have orders to intercept a person answering to this lady's description," returned the policeman, but speaking with not quite his previous assurance.
"By whose orders are you acting, if I may inquire?" demanded the young man.
"A Boston party."
"And the lady's name, if you please?"
"No name is given, sir; but she is described as a girl of about twenty, pure blonde, very pretty, slight and graceful in figure, wearing a dark-brown dress and jacket and a brown hat with black feathers. She will be alone and has no baggage," said the policeman, reading from the telegram which he had received some two hours previous.
Mr. Bryant smiled loftily.