"A brilliant idea," said Ian, "but it has a great drawback."
"Which is?"
"How are you going to dig it up if we want to bolt? All the soldiers in the place would see and there's an end to the jewels."
Nobody said anything for a moment; they were floored. Father Constantine spoke first.
"There is the high-road," he said in a detached way he had.
"Well?" said Ian.
"The troops won't make trenches in that, because it forms one of the lines of communication between Warsaw and Prussia. If we make a hole, lined with cement and moss, put some sausages over the jewels, with hard earth between, they ought to be safe. For anybody who found the sausages wouldn't go further down. We mustn't choose a spot near trees, for they will get felled and the ground torn up around them."
"There are two versts without trees, after you pass the windmills," said Vanda.
"And no peasants about to pry on you," added Ian.
So the Ruvno jewels were taken out of their caskets and sewn into waterproof bags. The girls helped the Countess to make them, for none of the servants, not even Martin, the old butler, knew anything of the plan. He was to be trusted, but Ian and his mother agreed it was better not to let him know; he could then quite truthfully spread the report that the jewels had gone with the plate. For so he and the upper servants were told. In the washleather bags they put very fine sawdust, too.