‘Oh, it’s much too late.’
‘Of course it is. I didn’t mean now. But to-morrow.’
‘Impossible.’ She moved on, in the direction away from her home. ‘I shall be with friends in the evening, the Morgans.’
‘Confound it! I had made up my mind to ask you for last Saturday, but some country people nabbed me for the whole of that day. I took them up the Monument, and up St Paul’s.’
‘I’ve never been up the Monument,’ said Nancy.
‘Never? Come to-morrow afternoon then. You can spare the afternoon. Let’s meet early somewhere. Take a bus to London Bridge. I’ll be at the north end of London Bridge at three o’clock.’
‘All right; I’ll be there,’ Nancy replied off-hand.
‘You really will? Three, sharp. I was never late at an appointment, business or pleasure.’
‘Which do you consider this?’ asked his companion, with a shrewd glance.
‘Now that’s unkind. I came here to-night on business, though. You quite understand that, didn’t you? I shouldn’t like you to make any mistake. Business, pure and simple.’