.

.
It took her some time to find the keeper of the padlock key, and when she had found him he refused to use it.

Nothing would move him, not even the threat of the fierceness of Brenda.
At last, almost in despair, Lucy suddenly remembered a word of power.
'I command you to open the well and let down the bucket,' she said.

'I command you by the great name of Halma.' 'It is death to speak that name,' said the keeper of the key, looking over his shoulder anxiously.
'It is life to speak that name,' said Lucy.

'Halma! Halma! Halma! If you don't open that well I'll carve the name on a pine-apple and send it in on the golden tray with the Great Sloth's dinner.' 'It would have the lives of hundreds for that,' said the keeper in horror.
'Open the well then,' said Lucy.
.