He gave a spring forward and disappeared.

Then Griselda heard his voice outside the doors, "Cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo." It was three o'clock.
The doors opened again to let him through, and he re-settled himself on his chair.

"As I was saying," he went on, "nothing could be easier.

But that palace, as you call it, has an entrance on the other side, as well as the one you know." "Another door, do you mean ?" said Griselda.

"How funny! Does it go through the wall?
And where does it lead to ?" "It leads," replied the cuckoo, "it leads to the country of the Nodding Mandarins." "_What_ fun!" exclaimed Griselda, clapping her hands.