noon
When they were sure of Mr. Dalken 's visit to the Shops that morning , they also insisted upon Mrs. Courtney coming in to look over the materials . The two plotters could hardly keep from hugging each other when they knew that both friends were coming , and the opportunity of having them meet and fall in love with each other was given at last . But they did not allow for Fate . There happened to be a socialistic parade of demonstration against work , or some such complaint , that noon ; and just as the parade reached that section of Fifth Avenue where the Ashby Shops were located , the police held up all vehicular traffic . All cars were diverted from the Avenue to side streets , but those unfortunate cars caught just at the point of crossing the street , had to back and wait until those behind had backed out of the congestion , before they could slowly make their way out . Mrs. Courtney 's chauffeur had just attempted to cross the Avenue in order to turn in front of the Ashby Shops , when the signal came and all traffic , up or down or cross-town , was held up until the parade should have passed . Mrs. Courtney was furious .