And that's the long and the short of what I know about her." While this explanation was in progress, the carpenter who had nailed up the case, and the carpenter's son, accompanying him, joined us in front of the house.

They followed Oscar in, and came out again, bearing the heavy burden of precious metal--more than one man could conveniently lift--between them.
The case deposited in the cart, carpenter senior and carpenter junior got in after it, wanting "a lift" to Brighton.
Carpenter senior, a big burly man, made a joke.

"It's a lonely country between this and Brighton, sir," he said to Oscar.

"Three of us will be none too many to see your precious packing-case safe into the railway station." Oscar took it seriously.

"Are there any robbers in this neighborhood ?" he asked.