Gartney would have liked to have argued this point, but having no time to do so, he merely shrugged his shoulders, and resumed the conversation.
"I brought my cousin, Sir Guy Errington, here to-day."
"The devil you did!" ejaculated Griff, considerably astonished.
Struck by the Major's tone, Eustace fixed his eyes keenly on him.
"If you doubt me," he said coolly, "you will be convinced by going to the refreshment room, where, at present, he is in conversation with Mrs. Veilsturm."
"Egad! she's got him at last," muttered Griff, pulling his grey moustache with an air of vexation.
"What do you say?" asked Gartney sharply.
Major Griff did not answer, being apparently in deep thought, but when Gartney addressed him the second time he had evidently made up his mind what course to pursue, and spoke accordingly.
"It doesn't suit me," said the Major deliberately, "and I'm sure it won't suit you, nor your cousin, nor your cousin's wife."
"It is as I thought," observed Eustace coolly; "there is something at the bottom of all this, therefore, if you will be less enigmatic, Major, I shall understand your meaning all the sooner."