THE RENTED MANOK. bi> 



plicasants and liares, nor can lie know what liis 

 keepers are doing both hj night and day ; but liis 

 butler, being always beneath his roof, can at any 

 time be found in his pantry or in the housekeeper's 

 room. • A gamekeeper has it in his power, if he is 

 a rogue, dishonestly to make away with his master's 

 game; but a butler is so near his master, and his 

 truth is so easily tested, that he cannot covertly 

 consume the contents of many bottles Avithout being 

 speedily discovered, that is, if his master makes 

 use of a little precaution. For my own part, I 

 would discharge any keeper on the very first 

 proof of drunkenness, and I should do the same if 

 I ever knew him to go into a public-house for the 

 purpose of drinking. My head keeper also would 

 report his under^men if they transgressed in this 

 particular. If they want beer, they can drink it 

 at their lodges. An habitual drunkard is not fit 

 for any place of trust and when in liquor he is 

 very apt to create ill feehng or discontent with 

 those farmers over whose lands he is supposed to 

 hold supervision. 



As in the course of my l^ook, and in another 

 chapter, I shall have to allude to gamekeepers, 

 and the choice of keepers, as well as their respec- 



