The captain was almost guilty of a start.
"You are more fortunate than I," he said. "I have not seen it. It is true that I have been walking on the wrong side of the house. I am particularly the unfortunate party, for if I am not mistaken, your fingers have left their marks on my arms and chest."
"I am very sorry," said Leicester. "I beg you will impute all you have suffered to my excess of zeal for the protection of Mrs. Mildmay's property. To be candid, I took you for a burglar——"
"Burglars do not go about their work with a cigar," said the captain, quietly.
"Or worse," said Leicester. "Either a burglar or one of the villains who for some purpose of their own are playing the ghost trick."
The captain smiled and eyed Leicester keenly.
"You think, then," he said, "that the ghost is a trick of some of the village boys?"
"Or villains," said Leicester. "I am sure there is some trickery at the bottom of it, and I cannot conceive a man playing it for so long without an end in view. However, this is not the time for a ventilation of the subject. I am sorry I made the mistake, and I apologize."
The captain bowed.
"I am not very much hurt," he said. "Another time, perhaps, when you take your stroll of investigation round the Park you will please to give me warning, and I will keep to my room."