half past five
For a moment I trembled lest the blinds were going to be put down , and all my chance of spying spoiled . But no ; my neighbors were careless fellows -- not given to watching their neighbors themselves nor to suspecting other people of it . The blinds were left up , and I was free to observe all that passed . Toward half past five I saw by the light of the street-lamp , which was just opposite , two people come into the house ; a young man who held the hand of a little girl . The young man was Karl Linders , the violoncellist ; the little girl , I supposed , must be his sister . They went upstairs , or rather Karl went upstairs ; his little sister remained below . There was a great shaking of hands and some laughing when Karl came into the room .