Nine o'clock
The invitation was of course accepted , and Gerard Douw and his pupil soon found themselves in the handsome and somewhat antique-looking room which had been prepared for the reception of the stranger . A cheerful wood-fire blazed in the capacious hearth ; a little at one side an oldfashioned table , with richly-carved legs , was placed -- destined , no doubt , to receive the supper , for which preparations were going forward ; and ranged with exact regularity , stood the tall-backed chairs , whose ungracefulness was more than counterbalanced by their comfort . The little party , consisting of Rose , her uncle , and the artist , awaited the arrival of the expected visitor with considerable impatience . Nine o'clock at length came , and with it a summons at the street-door , which , being speedily answered , was followed by a slow and emphatic tread upon the staircase ; the steps moved heavily across the lobby , the door of the room in which the party which we have described were assembled slowly opened , and there entered a figure which startled , almost appalled , the phlegmatic Dutchmen , and nearly made Rose scream with affright ; it was the form , and arrayed in the garb , of Mynher Vanderhausen ; the air , the gait , the height was the same , but the features had never been seen by any of the party before . The stranger stopped at the door of the room , and displayed his form and face completely . He wore a dark-coloured cloth cloak , which was short and full , not falling quite to the knees ; his legs were cased in dark purple silk stockings , and his shoes were adorned with roses of the same colour . The opening of the cloak in front showed the under-suit to consist of some very dark , perhaps sable material , and his hands were enclosed in a pair of heavy leather gloves which ran up considerably above the wrist , in the manner of a gauntlet .