Twenty-seven minutes past eight
In speaking to Sybil , he had only hesitated because he was not sure whether he wanted to meet Agnes Waring yet . When they became engaged ... _ If _ they became engaged , he would lose in interest with the women like Lady Poynter who were always inviting him to be lionized ... . As the taxi drew up in Belgrave Square , he looked at his watch . Twenty-seven minutes past eight . He handed his hat and cane to a footman and followed the butler upstairs with complete self-possession . As he was asked his name at the door of the drawing-room , however , he stammered : `` Mr. Eric L-lane . '' It was intolerable that he could not overcome that stammer , so entirely alien to a new young Byron ...