As he did it he avoided glancing at the sleeper , but not lest pity should unnerve him ; merely to avoid spilling . Then one long gloating look he cast upon his victim , and turning , wormed his way with difficulty up the tree . As he emerged at the top he looked the very spirit of evil breaking from its hole . Donning his hat at its most rakish angle , he wound his cloak around him , holding one end in front as if to conceal his person from the night , of which it was the blackest part , and muttering strangely to himself , stole away through the trees . Peter slept on . The light guttered -LSB- burned to edges -RSB- and went out , leaving the tenement in darkness ; but still he slept . It must have been not less than ten o'clock by the crocodile , when he suddenly sat up in his bed , wakened by he knew not what . It was a soft cautious tapping on the door of his tree . Soft and cautious , but in that stillness it was sinister . Peter felt for his dagger till his hand gripped it . Then he spoke . `` Who is that ? '' For long there was no answer : then again the knock . `` Who are you ? '' No answer . He was thrilled , and he loved being thrilled . In two strides he reached the door . Unlike Slightly 's door , it filled the aperture -LSB- opening -RSB- , so that he could not see beyond it , nor could the one knocking see him . `` I wo n't open unless you speak , '' Peter cried . Then at last the visitor spoke , in a lovely bell-like voice .
`` Let me in , XXXXX . ''
Peter answer aperture breaking cloak crocodile dagger night o'clock victim