What accurate judgement does Perrault make about Conway, the accuracy of which greatly surprises Conway? (chapter 8)

Perrault deduces that Conway is unmarried and without children or close family.

“You make no comment, my dear Conway. Forgive my eloquence — I belong to an age and a nation that never considered it bad form to be articulate. . . . But perhaps you are thinking of wife, parents, children, left behind in the world? Or maybe ambitions to do this or that? Believe me, though the pang may be keen at first, in a decade from now even its ghost will not haunt you. Though in point of fact, if I read your mind correctly, you have no such griefs.”

Conway was startled by the accuracy of the judgment. “That’s so,” he replied. “I’m unmarried; I have few close friends and no ambitions.”