nearly four o'clock
All London will be there . '' Said Mr. Marrier , rather shamefaced : `` That 's just it , Mr. Machin . It positively never occurred to me that the Azure Conference is to be on that very day . I never thought of it until nearly four o'clock . And then I scarcely knew how to explain it to you . I really do n't know how it escaped me . '' Mr. Marrier 's trouble was now out , and he had declined in Edward Henry 's esteem .