"Indeed!" said the Squire. "Have you never seen females before, Sam?"
"Iss I have, sometimes, in the village; but these be furriners, sir."
"Well, maybe they'll buy your eggs, and that'll save you three-quarters of your walk to the village."
Sam went out, looking very much puzzled. What had brought foreign females to his master's house, he wondered? Within half an hour he was back again, this time a little less eager, though equally excited. He rapped on the door, and being bidden to enter, said, less breathlessly than before:
"If 'ee please, sir, I seed a man on a hoss ride up to Dower House, and he went inside, sir, and 'twas Maister John."
"Who? John who?" The questions came like pistol-shots.
"His other name be Trevanion, it do seem," said the boy.
The Squire got up in great agitation.
"Are you sure, boy?" he asked.
"No, sir, I bean't sure, 'cos I never seed un afore; but I axed Tom Penny, who was standing by, who 'twas, and he said, 'Why, ninny-watch, doan't 'ee know yer own maister's born cousin? 'Tis the same fine genel'um that give Ike Pendry a groat for carr'n his portmantel.'"