the hour of seven
` And an elderly man , richly clad ? ' continued Douw . ` As well as I might see , ' replied his pupil ; ` he could not be young , nor yet very old neither , and his dress was rich and grave , as might become a citizen of wealth and consideration . ' At this moment the sonorous boom of the Stadhouse clock told , stroke after stroke , the hour of seven ; the eyes of both master and student were directed to the door ; and it was not until the last peal of the old bell had ceased to vibrate , that Douw exclaimed : ` So , so ; we shall have his worship presently -- that is , if he means to keep his hour ; if not , thou mayst wait for him , Godfrey , if you court the acquaintance of a capricious burgomaster . As for me , I think our old Leyden contains a sufficiency of such commodities , without an importation from Rotterdam . ' Schalken laughed , as in duty bound ; and after a pause of some minutes , Douw suddenly exclaimed : ` What if it should all prove a jest , a piece of mummery got up by Vankarp , or some such worthy ! I wish you had run all risks , and cudgelled the old burgomaster , stadholder , or whatever else he may be , soundly .