"It was so frightfully important that I should catch this train." "Was it ?" Somehow the brief question compelled an explanation, although it held no suggestion of curiosity--nothing more than a friendly interest.
"Yes.

I have a concert engagement to-morrow, and if I missed this train I couldn't possibly make my connection at Exeter.

I change on to the South-Western line there." "Then I'm very glad I sailed in at the crucial moment.

Although you'd have been able to reach your destination in time for the concert even had the worst occurred to-day.

You could have travelled down by an earlier train to-morrow; if everything else had failed." "But they've fixed a rehearsal for ten o'clock to-morrow morning." "That certainly does complicate matters.