One: your house lies quite inland, with four sides to defend: the river and marsh give Rudie's but two and a fraction.

Boats?
Not hardly: we'd soon stop that, as you'll see, if they dare.
Anyhow,--point two,--your house is all hillocks behind, and shops roundabout: here's just one low ridge, and the rest clear field.

Third: the Portuguese built a well of sorts in the courtyard; water's deadly, I dare say, but your place has no well whatever.

And as to four, suppose--in a sudden alarm, say, those cut off by land could run another half-chance to reach the place by river .-- By the way, the nunnery has a bell to ring." Gilbert Forrester shoved the map along to his neighbor, and cleared his throat.
"Gentlemen," he declared slowly, "you once did me the honor to say that in--in a certain event, you would consider me as acting head.

Frankly, I confess, my plans were quite--ah!--vague.