nine o'clock
At the same time that martial law was declared , however , and the special assemblage of lawmakers convened , a statement was issued in which an attempt was made to eliminate from the minds of the people the idea that the undefinable object above the metropolis was at all dangerous . It was , indeed , suggested that it very probably was some sort of new device which had been constructed on the earth and which was being introduced to the people of the world in a somewhat sensational manner by the person or persons who were responsible for it . The fears of the populace were , to some extent , allayed by this means , and some degree of order restored . * * * * * At nine o'clock Dirk Vanderpool was shown into the council chamber in the palace of Orlando Fragoni , and he was closely followed by Stanton . Fragoni was already there , and he greeted the two men with a countenance that was serene but that , nevertheless , revealed indications of concern . He was a man past middle age , tall and strikingly handsome in appearance . His eyes were dark and penetrating and his forehead , high and wide , was crowned by an abundance of snow-white hair .