"In three hours," he repeats, and there's another of those bordering-on-coy smiles although there's something slightly more mischievous about this one. For now he finishes up his drink and, as he does so, catches the eye of someone across the room that he's been meaning to talk to.

"But if you'll be so kind as to excuse me for now." And he rises from his seat, adjusting his suit jacket as he goes. "I'm afraid I need to attend to a few matters elsewhere." Business calls, etc.