Chapter 22
FINALLY, THE PARADE with the elephant, the wagon and balloon, the horses, goats and parrots, the carts with beautifully dressed-up people and all the citizens tagging along, keen to get more sweets, arrived in the middle of the city. They crossed the marketplace and went through the palace gates. There was a short holdup at the gate when Mustafa held his talk about bringing fun to the city for the benefit of the palace guards. Nellie couldn’t hear what was said, but a lot of guards came to the gate, and after protests and pleading from Mustafa and promises of sweets, the palace gates opened.
Madame Sabine had said several times that Casper loved sweets.
The coach rattled across the cobbles of the forecourt. Nellie sat on the side facing away from the palace. The crowd of citi
