I looked at her, and her eyes were frankly searching me for the truth. The eyes were gray and very calm.
“There is a change in him,” I admitted. “But I am still his friend.”
Her eyes widened a little.
“Do you mean by that that you can’t be my friend? Don’t you think I have a right to know?”
“Chanler has been very lonely——”
“It’s drink, isn’t it?” she interrupted. “Don’t be afraid to tell me; you can see I’m not afraid.”
“He has been lonely,” I continued, “and therefore he has probably been drinking more than is good for him. Now that you are here he will undoubtedly become himself again.”
“Do you think so, really?”
“I do,” I said earnestly. “How can he do anything else now?”
She rose and crossed over to the starboard rail. I followed. Looking aft I saw Simmons hurrying into Chanler’s stateroom with a bottle wrapped in a napkin, and Chanler’s absence was explained.