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“True,” said their host; and then he explained, “I am an attendant-gnome, you know, and wait upon my master, Sir Oracle. Now, he is so wise that no doubt he could tell you what to do next. Mr. Spook is quite right, and you couldn’t do better than consult him.”

“And if,” put in the friendly spook eagerly,

“Well, what do you think?” said the maker of shadows to his friend.

“Why, we’ve profited so much by wise advice in the past, and this is such a fair suggestion that I think we’d better accept it. Pray where does Sir Oracle live, and when could we see him?”

“Oh, he’s to be seen now, I expect,” said the ground-gnome. “If you like, I’ll take you to his house at once.”

And the obliging spook said—