There was no light streaming out from the windows this time, and the peacocks were quite motionless at their post.
"Are they asleep ?" said Hugh.
"Perhaps," said Dudu, speaking for the first time.

"They lead a monotonous life, you see.

But there is no occasion to disturb them." They were standing just in front of the door, by which, the last time, Hugh had entered the long lighted-up passage.

As they stood waiting, the door slowly opened, but to Hugh's great surprise the inside was perfectly different.

A very large white-painted hall was revealed to them.