The Ugly-Wuglies shook the gates in front of the castle.
"It's late," Gerald explained.
"There's another way into this hotel.
But you have to climb through a hole."
"The ladies won't like that," said the middle-aged gentleman.
But the ladies said they loved adventures.
"Such a thrill!" said the one in the hat with flowers.
So they went along the road until they came to the hole in the bushes.
Gerald went first with a lantern.
Next it was Mabel's turn.
Then all the creatures slid down into the cave.
They followed Gerald into the arched tunnel and out onto the terrace.
"Oh!" The creatures admired the view in the moonlight.
They continued along the gravel paths toward the Temple of Flora.
Gerald's plan was to hide the creatures in the passage until the charm broke.
Suddenly Gerald saw the statue of Hermes leap from his pedestal.
Gerald was still wearing the ring.
He knew that he was the only one who could see Hermes coming toward them.
Gerald slipped the ring from his finger.
The statue was back on its pedestal, still as could be.
When Gerald put the ring back on, Hermes was circling the Ugly-Wuglies.
"This is a very superior hotel,"
said an Ugly-Wugly wearing a top hat.
"The grounds are beautiful."
"We'll have to enter through the back door," Mabel said.
"The front door is locked early."
"What an adventure!" muttered a short Ugly-Wugly in a cap.
"I feel young again!"
They hurried up the steps of the Temple of Flora.
Mabel went behind the statue of the goddess.
Gerald's lantern lit up a door.
"This way," said Mabel.
"You lead the way," said the middle-aged gentleman to Gerald.
"Uh . . . I . . . I must stay behind to close the door," said Gerald.
"You wouldn't want us to get in trouble, would you?"
The creatures agreed they didn't want that.
"Here, you take the lantern."
Gerald handed it to the middle-aged gentleman.
"I wish you a pleasant stay in the very nice hotel."
One by one the other creatures followed their leader into the passage.
Waiting outside, Mabel and Gerald hardly dared to breathe.
But before they could shut the door, there was a scuffling noise.
The creatures were trying to escape!
Mabel and Gerald struggled to close the door.
"Oh, I can't push anymore!" cried Mabel.
"They mustn't get out!" said Gerald.
"What's going on?" said a new voice behind the children.
"Help us!" cried Gerald.
A man stepped in and helped the children shut the door.
"Thank you," said Mabel breathlessly. "Who are you?"
"I've come from London." The man paused.
"To be the caretaker of this estate.
Now tell me what this is all about.
Who were those strange people?"
"If we told you the truth, you wouldn't believe us," said Gerald.
"Remember, I saw them," said the man.
"Tell him," Mabel urged Gerald.
So Gerald told the whole story of the magic ring.
"We think the creatures will turn back into old coats tomorrow.
Then we can take them home.
Do you believe any of this?"
"No." The man shook his head.
It was time for the children to go home.
"Don't open that door," Gerald warned the man.
"Wait for us to come back tomorrow at ten o'clock."
The next morning the four children returned to the Temple of Flora.
Everything was quiet.
"Look!" Kathleen cried.
She pointed to the floor.
The caretaker lay there, moaning softly.
At the same time, an Ugly-Wugly was peering at them through the bushes.