about noon
That point settled , he willingly lent himself to her device , for he desired nothing better than to see Franks lured back to the old allegiance , and away from the house at Walham Green . So , before going to bed , he posted a reply to Miss Elvan 's letter , saying that he should much like a talk with her about the artistic possibilities of obscure London , and that he would walk next day along the Battersea Embankment , with the hope of meeting her . And thus it came to pass . Through the morning there were showers , but about noon a breeze swept the sky fair , and softly glowing summer reigned over the rest of the day . In his mood of hopefulness , Warburton had no scruple about abandoning the shop at tea-time ; he did not even trouble himself to invent a decorous excuse , but told Allchin plainly that he thought he would have a walk . His henchman , who of late had always seemed rather pleased than otherwise when Warburton absented himself , loudly approved the idea . `` Do n't you ` urry back , sir .