Could I telephone and ask ?" He did so and received the reply from Turner that Countess Shulski was at home, but could not receive his lordship until half-past four o'clock.
"Damn!" said that gentleman as he put the receiver down, and Francis Markrute turned away to hide his smile.
"You had better go and buy an engagement ring, hadn't you ?" he said.

"It won't do to forget that." "Good Lord, I had forgotten!" gasped Tristram.
"Well, I have lots of time to do it now, so I'll go to the family jewelers, they are called old-fashioned, but the stones are so good." So they said good-bye, the young man speeding westwards in a taxi, the lion hunter's excitement thrilling in his veins.
The financier returned to his stately office and passed through his obsequious rows of clerks to his inner sanctum.

Then he lit another cigar and gave orders that he was not to be disturbed for a quarter of an hour.

He reposed in a comfortable chair and allowed himself to dream.
All his plans were working; there must be no rush.

Great emergencies required rush, but to build to the summit of one's ambitions, one must use calm and watchful care..