Ian had never thought of the possibility of leaving Ruvno. Privately, he meant to stop there even if the Germans came. Only thus would he be able to save his property. He had already heard enough tales of the neighborhood to know that an empty house is soon a smoking ruin and an abandoned farm appropriated by somebody else. He would send his mother and Vanda away and see things through alone. Minnie he would get rid of beforehand. But there was no reason why he should not humor his mother in this matter of the jewels. Time enough to tell the truth when real danger came. So he said nothing. Father Constantine suggested putting them in the chapel, under a stone which they would take out of the floor and replace so that nobody would be any the wiser.
"Prussians don't respect churches," said the Countess.
"And suppose the chapel should get burnt," remarked Vanda.
Father Constantine shuddered at the thought. He loved the little chapel better than any part of Poland, and this is saying a great deal.
"The only place is where everybody goes," said Vanda.
"The horse pond," suggested Ian jokingly.
"Yes," she rejoined seriously, "I vote for the horse pond."
"And ruin the jewels," protested her aunt.
"Vanda is right," said Ian. "All the soldiers who come use the horse pond. They won't think of looking for loot there. We should have to dig on the side furthest from the paddock wall, as that may be destroyed."
"Yes," said Vanda, "something like that."