half past five
`` Poor Flossie , '' he said gently ; and there was a pause during which Flossie looked more demure than ever after her little outburst . She had seen the look in his eyes that foreboded flight . He rose abruptly . `` Do you know , I 'm awfully sorry , but I 've got an appointment at half past five to meet a fellow in Fleet Street . '' The fellow was Maddox , but the appointment , he had made it that very minute , which was the twenty-fifth minute past five . They went their ways ; he to Fleet Street , and she home . Maddox did not turn up to the appointment and Rickman had to keep it with himself .