"You seem to be a man of some importance here," I said.
Bill looked very modest, but nodded.
"I want to have a little talk with some respectable man in the parish," I said: "one who knows the worth of land and one who knows the people."
"Wal, I think as 'ow I knaws everybody," said Bill; "I've bin ere oal my life, and don't owe nobody nothin'. I've got three booats, and a daicent little farm."
"I can quite fancy that," I said, "by the way people regard you. Is your farm your own land now, or do you rent it?"
"Nobody farms their own land in this ere parish," replied Bill, "it do oal belong to Squire Trewinion, but who be you and what do you want to knaw about the parish for?"
"I'm a stranger," I said, "and I used to know young Roger Trewinion; can you tell me anything about him?"
"Knaw young Maaster Roger, did 'ee?" cried Bill, "why he was a friend to me; ain't 'ee 'eard un spaik of Bill Tregargus?"
"Bill Tregargus?" I said; "many a time! why, did you not go out with him one night and rescue a young lady whose ship was wrecked upon a great rock?"
"Why, iss," said Bill excitedly, "ded a ever tell 'ee 'bout that?"