The staircase that had to
be negotiated was also reassuringly bright, but at its base came
the "Terrible Passage." It was interminably long, and only lit by
an oil lamp at its far end. Almost at once a long corridor running
at right angles to the main one, and plunged in total darkness,
had to be crossed. This was an awful place, for under a marble
slab in its dim recesses a stuffed crocodile reposed. Of course in
the daytime the crocodile PRETENDED to be very dead, but every one
knew that as soon as it grew dark, the crocodile came to life
again, and padded noiselessly about the passage on its scaly paws
seeking for its prey, with its great cruel jaws snapping, its
fierce teeth gleaming, and its horny tail lashing savagely from
side to side. It was also a matter of common knowledge that the
favourite article of diet of crocodiles was a little boy with bare
legs in a white suit. Even should one be fortunate enough to
escape the crocodile's jaws, there were countless other terrors
awaiting the traveller down this awe-inspiring passage. A little
farther on there was a dark lobby, with cupboards surrounding it.
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