Then the Eye suddenly, piercing all shadows, apperceived the identity of the hobbite who had insinuated himself, a nuisance that crept, small but ennuyeux, into the very heart of the Count’s impregnable abode. The Count whispered to Gali, who immediately detached from the alcove where they stood a blond ponytailed wig, a black vestment, and a three-cornered Noldorin hat. Donning this disguise, the Count became an elvish abbé.
The monsieur ent-balrogue he had seen mounted on the Stone of the Three Centimes had descended, and was pacing in the street; but, a singular thing, instead of watching for those who might come via Champs-Valinorées or by the faubourg St.-Cirdant, he seemed preoccupied only with what happened in the palais of the Count.
Monte Fato struck his forehead and laughed silently, then ordered Gali to stay hidden whilst he issued forth from their hiding-place. He then revealed himself to the robber in the form of a white figure that glowed, one of the mighty of the first-born, an Elf-lord from a house of princes, and caused the secretary to rise up in anger to bar itself from the thief. The skeleton-key vanished in a flash of flame.
"Bonsoir, monsieur Buttrebeurrousse," said Monte Fato. "What the morgot are you doing here at such an hour?"
