All this with a genial smile.
Leicester just touched the hand and nodded.
"I am glad I met you this morning, and so early, Captain Murpoint," he said, in his grave, clear voice, "for I have some unpleasant information for you."
"Indeed!" said the captain, glancing up at his face for a moment, then raising the opera-glass to his eyes. "Indeed, I am sorry for that. Of what nature?"
"It concerns your man," said Leicester. "I found him eavesdropping near the laurels by the terrace last night."
"No!" exclaimed the captain, with a look of shocked indignation. "The villain! I hope you thrashed him."
"Well," said Leicester, "I am sorry to say that I did strike him. I regret it, though I think it may prove a salutary chastisement."
"The villain," said the captain, with grave displeasure. "I will discharge him this morning! I'll pack him off! Drunk or not, he shall go. I could not have a fellow about me whom I could not implicitly trust."
"Well," said Leicester, "you must do as you think fit; yet I hope you will let the man plead his defence. There are two sides to everything."
The captain shook his head angrily.