is
will not be long, for already our movement is in train. I have sent
word to Marvin to have all preparation for our transport ready. He is
to have a special train, which is to run at night so as to avoid
notice. Also a number of carts and stone-wagons, with sufficient men
and appliances to take all our packing-cases to Paddington. We shall
be away before the Argus-eyed Pressman is on the watch. We shall today
begin our packing up; and I dare say that by tomorrow night we shall be
ready. In the outhouses I have all the packing-cases which were used
for bringing the things from Egypt, and I am satisfied that as they
were sufficient for the journey across the desert and down the Nile to
Alexandria and thence on to London, they will serve without fail
between here and Kyllion. We four men, with Margaret to hand us such
things as we may require, will be able to get the things packed safely;
and the carrier's men will take them to the trucks.

"Today the servants go to Kyllion, and Mrs. Grant will make such
arrangements as may be required. She will take a stock of necessaries
with her, so that we will not attract local attention by our daily
needs; and will keep us supplied with perishable food from London.
Thanks to Margaret's wise and generous treatment of the servants who
decided to remain, we have got a staff on which we can depend. They
have been already cautioned to secrecy, so that we need not fear gossip
from within. Indeed, as the servants will be in London after their
preparations at Kyllion are complete, there will not be much subject
for gossip, in detail at any rate.

"As, however, we should commence the immediate work of packing at once,
we will leave over the after proceedings till later when we have
leisure."

Accordingly we set about our work. Under Mr. Trelawny's guidance, and
aided by the servants, we took from the outhouses great packing-cases.
Some of these were of enormous strength, fortified by many thicknesses
of wood, and by iron bands and rods with screw-ends and nuts. We
placed them throughout the house, each close to the object which it was
to contain. When this preliminary work had been effected, and there
had been placed in each room and in the hall great masses of new hay,
cotton-waste and paper, the servants were sent away. Then we set about
packing.

No one, not accustomed to packing, could have the slightest idea of the
amount of the amount of work involved in such a task