"What do you understand?"
"Why you won't leave the Grange."
"There's no difficulty in guessing that," retorted Nestley angrily, "my medical---- What the deuce are you grinning at?"
"You, my friend," said Basil smiling, "your medical--what!--honour--knowledge--interest--what you like."
"Don't talk rubbish."
"As you please."
"Look here," said Nestley, turning round with a resolute frown on his haggard face, "what is the reason I don't leave the Grange?"
"Not being in your confidence I can't say, but if I may guess, I should think Una Challoner."
Nestley made a gesture of assent, and turned once more to gaze moodily at the grey waters of the river.
"If I only had the courage," he muttered harshly, "I would throw myself into the water and end everything."