It was nearly ten minutes to nine when Margaret remembered to look at the time. "Peggy, you brute, you've kept me talking twenty minutes longer than I meant to. Look here, I've got to go."
"That's right," said Mrs. Mason, "throw your guest out. Where were-you brought up?" She pulled on her gloves. "You are a mutt not to come and spend the night with me as I suggested. Sure you won't change your mind? You can ring the Priory up, can't you?"
"Not on the telephone. No, really I can't, Peggy. I've got to go and see our solicitor too: that's why I'm pushing you off."
"Solicitor be blowed," said Mrs. Mason inelegantly.
"Who ever goes to see solicitors at this hour? All right, my girl, I'm going. I shall tell Bill when he gets back from France that you had an assignation with some man you kept very dark." Her sharp eyes detected a rising blush in Margaret's cheeks. "Hul-lo!" she said, surprised. "Don't say I've hit the nail on the head? Is there someone?"
"No, of course not, you idiot. I'm going to see my solicitor and his wife at their house in Chelsea. Can I drop you?"
"As I live in the wilds of Hampstead, which fact you are well aware of, I regard that offer as a clear proof that you are dithering. And the only explanation for that…'
"Will you shut up?" said Margaret, and dragged her forth.
A quarter of an hour later her car drew up outside the Milbanks' house on the Embankment. She was ushered at once into the drawing-room on the first floor, and found both Mr. and Mrs. Milbank there. They both gave her a warm welcome, and for a little while they were all engaged in the usual conversation of old friends. But when Margaret had set down her coffeecup, Mr. Milbank said: "Well, what is it you want to see me about, Margaret? Have you been run in for furious driving?"
"C'ertainly not!" said Margaret indignantly. "I may not be one of the world's best drivers, but at least I've never been had up. It really isn't anything frightfully important, but I thought that since I happened to be in town I might as well drop in and ask you about it."