noon
Though Eben 's note to Farquaharson had said that Conscience requested him to extend the invitation , he had not yet mentioned to her the circumstance of its sending . He wished to study an unwarned face when she met Farquaharson . If she attempted to flash a warning of any sort ; if her words cleverly shaped themselves into forms of private meaning for the lover : he would be there to note and correlate . During the morning 's shopping Conscience had not seemed , to his narrow watching , impatient to separate from him , but shortly after noon she suggested , as though blaming herself for her previous remissness , `` But you had business with your banker , did n't you ? Does n't that have to be seen to early ? '' `` There 's an abundance of time , '' he hastened to assure her . `` I can look after that matter after lunch .