"What do you mean?" asked Véronique.
She too, in spite of herself, felt this need of a refuge against a possible enemy.
"What do I mean? I'll tell you. The thing has been talked about a lot in the island, especially this year; and Maguennoc decided that, at the first attack, everybody should take shelter in the Priory."
"Why in the Priory?"
"Because we could defend ourselves there. The cliffs are perpendicular. You're protected on every side."
"What about the bridge?"
"Maguennoc and Honorine thought of everything. There's a little hut fifteen yards to the left of the bridge. That's the place they hit on to keep their stock of petrol in. Empty three or four cans over the bridge, strike a match . . . and the thing's done. You're just as in your own home. You can't be got at and you can't be attacked."
"Then why didn't they come to the Priory instead of taking to flight in the boats?"
"It was safer to escape in the boats. But we no longer have the choice."
"And when shall we start?"