Watkins's further researches produced a large chunk of native cheese; and when he had set this down, he remarked:
"In a pen behind the house, close to the kitchen windows, there are two goats; and your lordship sees there, on the right of the front door, two cows tethered."
I began to laugh, Watkins was so wise and solemn.
"We can stand a siege, you mean?" I asked. "Well, I hope it won't come to that."
Hogvardt rose, and began to move round the hall, examining the weapons that decorated the walls. From time to time he grunted disapprovingly; the guns were useless, rusted, out of date, and there was no ammunition for them. But when he had almost completed his circuit, he gave an exclamation of satisfaction, and came to me, holding an excellent modern rifle and a large cartridge case.
"See!" he grunted, in huge satisfaction. "C.S. on the stock, I suspect you can guess whose it is, my lord."
"This is very thoughtful of Constantine," observed Denny, who was employing himself in cutting imaginary lemons in two with a fine damascened scimiter that he had taken from the wall.
"As for the cows," said I, "perhaps they will carry them off."
"I think not," said Hogvardt, taking an aim with the rifle through the window.