About four o'clock
To-morrow , at as early an hour as you can make convenient , I shall hope to see you . '' And with a friendly shake of the hand , and a reiteration of advice and good wishes , Hodges departed . Soon after this the apprentice returned , and by his master 's directions , placed a chafing-dish in the middle of the room , supplying it with the drugs and herbs left by the doctor . About four o'clock , a loud knocking was heard . Instantly answering the summons , Leonard found four men at the shop-door , two of whom he knew , by red wands they carried , were searchers ; while their companions appeared to be undertakers , from their sable habits and long black cloaks . Marching unceremoniously into the shop , the searchers desired to see the sick man ; and the apprentice then perceived that one of the men in black cloaks was the coffin-maker , Chowles . He could not , however , refuse him admittance , and led the way to the grocer 's chamber .