Gartney knew in his own mind that Errington wanted to speak about his wife, so sat down near the recumbent form of his cousin, and waited for him to begin the conversation.
Nothing was said, however, until, after a moment's silence, Guy looked up at Gartney's face with a frown.
"Good Lord, man, have you left your tongue behind in Arabia?" he said roughly, leaning his cheek on his hand.
Eustace laughed a little bitterly.
"Perhaps it would have been as well if I had done so," he said deliberately, "it might save my soul the burden of many lies."
"As whimsical as ever!"
"Do you think so? No doubt! Solitude is rather apt to confirm a man in his eccentric habits. By-the-way, you have not told me how your wife is?"
"Quite well," replied Errington shortly.
"And the son and heir, on whose birth I must congratulate you?"
"Oh, he's all right."