What brings ye back here?
Ye travel the country like a drover." "Oh, I'm a free man now and I took a fancy to this place.

An idle body has nothing to do but please himself." "I hear ye're taking a lease of Huntingtower ?" "Now who told you that ?" "Just the clash of the place.

Is it true ?" Dickson looked sly and a little annoyed.
"I had maybe had half a thought of it, but I'll thank you not to repeat the story.

It's a big house for a plain man like me, and I haven't properly inspected it." "Oh, I'll keep mum, never fear.

But if ye've that sort of notion, I can understand you not being able to keep away from the place." "That's maybe the fact," Dickson admitted.
"Well! It's just on that point I want a word with you." The innkeeper seated himself unbidden on the chair which held Dickson's modest raiment.