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The adventure of the speckled band.
About nine o'clock the light among the trees went out, and the Manor House was all in darkness. Two hours went slowly past. Then, suddenly, just at eleven o'clock, a single bright light appeared right in front of us.
"That is our signal," said Holmes, jumping to his feet; "it comes from the middle window."
As we left the hotel, we told the owner that we were going on a late visit to a friend. We said that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A moment later we were out on the dark road, a cold wind blowing in our faces, and one yellow light shining in the darkness to guide us on our mission.
It was easy enough to enter the grounds of Manor House, for there were many holes in the old wall. We went through the trees until we reached the lawn. We crossed it, and were about to enter into the house through the window. Suddenly from the bushes there ran what seemed to be a horrible child, who jumped on the grass with waving arms and legs and then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness.
"My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?"