"Imbecile," Joachim muttered disparagingly, but truly it was just as well that Mr. Alderdice had departed. The major glowered at a blank spot on the way, then started away from the table to find a seat. Now that the lad was no long present, his bad mood would abate.
He could only imagine what the Englishman must think of him. It simply wasn't like him to be so churlish. Still, it was hardly his fault if the boy appeared so lacking in every possible aspect, was it? No, indeed!
Joachim found a reasonably comfortable chair near the wall and gratefully sat down in it. Brown hands folded over the cane's handle. A passing occurrence, it had to have been. Better not to dwell on it. Not as if he didn't have other things to fret over, certainly.
No, he would think on it no more. He was a reasonable man. He would never repeat this behavior again.