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When they had put everything carefully back in its place, they went out.

Then John Twist got up, and creeping as quietly as a mouse to the door, spied through the keyhole.

“Over hedges and fences, towards Spain, into the cellar,” he heard them say, and at the same moment they disappeared from view.

“I must find out what it all means,” said the lover. He went to the stove, took out the jar of pomade from its hiding-place, and after rubbing it on his face and hands, said, “Through hedges and fences, towards Spain, into the cellar.”

He was immediately lifted off his feet, and found himself flying through the air like a bird. He very quickly arrived in a cellar in Spain. There he saw the two witches, in a company composed of all nationalities. They all appeared to be mad. Some wore stove-pipes or saucepans instead of hats. Some were half man, half frog or stag. In one corner, mysterious dishes were in course of preparation, under the direction of a crow in spectacles, who was holding the recipe in his claw.