"Yes," said Claudio, "but I don't know how to, because you are locked up. Well, failing the key, let us look for other means."
And, examining the doors, he came upon one without a lock. He opened it and went into the cage, but he had no sooner entered than the door closed of its own accord, leaving him a prisoner.
"Poor little boy!" shouted the others, "you are quite lost, for this is a kind of mouse-trap where you can enter but can't get out."
At this moment, the man with two faces arrived; he opened the door and, facing Claudio, looked at him with the serious face which made the boy shut his eyes to keep from crying.
"What! Have I got one pupil more?" he exclaimed. "Good, now it is your turn to laugh, as it is the first day."
And seizing his head with both hands he turned it round so that the gay face came in front of the boy. The latter looked a moment, and again shut his eyes to keep from laughing aloud.
"I see that you are strong, but to-morrow we shall see," said the monster, and he locked Claudio up with the other little ones.
Now it was night; all were sleeping, including the horrible gaoler.
Claudio was half asleep when he heard himself called softly. It was his friend the squirrel, who had got in through the iron bars and said to him:
"Be sure that to-morrow I will save you."