20
　　An amazing secret
　　They sat in the little room for some time, disappointed and puzzled. Time and again they tried tomake the rope-ladder slide out of its secret place, but it wouldn’t. In the end they got very thirstyand very hungry. They drank all the water left in the jugs¹, and wondered where they could getsomething to eat.
　　They could only think of the room where they had feasted before. ‘Let’s go back to it and see ifthe remains² of that meal are still there,’ said Jack³. ‘I could do with another lobster⁴ or two!’
　　‘Poor Polly!’ remarked Kiki, who always seemed to know when food was being talked about.
　　‘Polly’s got a cold. Send for the doctor.’
　　‘Oh, you’ve found your tongue again, have you?’ said Jack. ‘I thought you’d lost it! Now don’tstart screaming or cackling, for goodness’ sake, or you’ll have us caught!’
　　They found their way back to the throne-room, which was still empty, and then to the roomwhere the meal had been.
　　There were still the remains of the meal there. The children’s eyes gleamed. Good! They feltbetter at once.
　　They sat down and reached for the food. Then suddenly Jack put his hand on Philip’s arm andfrowned. A noise had come from the next room – the beautifully furnished bedroom! The childrensat as still as mice. Was anybody there?
　　Kiki suddenly saw Snowy with his front hooves on the table, reaching for the salad. In angershe flew at the kid and screeched⁵.
　　‘That’s done it!’ said Jack. And as he spoke⁶, the hangings at the entrance to the room opened,and a face peered through.
　　It was the face they had seen down in the big work-room – the face with the enormous forehead.
　　It had bulging⁷ eyes of a curious green-blue, a hooked nose, and sunken cheeks, yellowish incolour.

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