"Look!" gasped Adrianna.
The sign of the Blue Leopard over the shelf glowed as if a lantern
hung over it. The radiance was thrown from above. It grew
brighter and brighter as they watched. The Blue Leopard seemed to
crouch and spring with life. Then the door into the front hall
opened--the outer door, which had been carefully locked. It
squeaked and they all recognized it. They sat staring. Mr.
Townsend was as transfixed as the rest. They heard the outer door
shut, then the door into the room swung open and slowly that awful
black group of people which they had seen in the afternoon entered.
The Townsends with one accord rose and huddled together in a far
corner; they all held to each other and stared. The people, their
faces gleaming with a whiteness of death, their black robes waving
and folding, crossed the room. They were a trifle above mortal
height, or seemed so to the terrified eyes which saw them. They
reached the mantel-shelf where the sign-board hung, then a black-
draped long arm was seen to rise and make a motion, as if plying a
knocker. Then the whole company passed out of sight, as if through
the wall, and the room was as before.
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