nine o'clock
Presently two men came quickly up the lane from the river . As they neared the house they seemed to me to shuffle in their walk rather more than vas necessary . It must have been a signal , for , as they came opposite the door , I saw it swing back upon its hinges , as it had swung that morning , with Mr. Jermyn . Both men entered the house swiftly , just as the city churches , one after the other , chimed half-past nine o'clock . Almost directly afterwards I got the start of my life . I was looking into the dark upper room across the lane , expecting nothing , when suddenly , out of the darkness , so terribly that I was scared beyond screaming , two large red eyes glowed , over a mouth that trembled in fire . I started back in my seat , sick with fright , but I could not take my eyes away .