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have already had occasion to introduce
our readersthat in which his pupils
worked。
When the evening closed in； Gerard
called Schalken； who was about to take his
departure to his obscure and comfortless
lodgings； and asked him to come
home and sup with Rose and Vanderhausen。
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 old…
fashioned table； with richly…carved legs；
was placeddestined； 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。
In one hand he carried his walking…
stick and his hat； which he had removed；
and the other hung heavily by his side。
A quantity of grizzled hair descended in
long tresses from his head； and its folds
rested upon the plaits of a stiff ruff； which
effectually concealed his neck。
So far all was well； but the face！all
the flesh of the face was coloured with the
bluish leaden hue which is sometimes pro…
duced by the operation of metallic
medicines administered in excessive quantities；
the eyes were enormous； and the white
appeared both above and below the iris；
which gave to them an expression of
insanity； which was heightened by their
glassy fixedness； the nose was well enough；
but the mouth was writhed considerably to
one side； where it opened in order to give
egress to two long； discoloured fangs； which
projected from the upper jaw； far below the
lower lip； the hue of the lips themselves
bore the usual relation to that of the face；
and was consequently nearly black。 The
character of the face was malignant； even
satanic； to the last degree； and； indeed；
such a combination of horror could hardly
be accounted for； except by supposing the
corpse of some atrocious malefactor； which
had long hung blackening upon the gibbet；
to have at length become the habitation of
a demonthe frightful sport of Satanic
possession。
It was remarkable that the worshipful
stranger suffered as little as possible of his
flesh to appear； and that during his visit he
did not once remove his gloves。
Having stood for some moments at the
door； Gerard Douw at length found breath
and collectedness to bid him welcome； and；
with a mute inclination of the head； the
stranger stepped forward into the room。
There was something indescribably odd；
even horrible； about all his motions；
something undefinable； that was unnatural； un…
humanit was as if the limbs were guided
and directed by a spirit unused to the
management of bodily machinery。
The stranger said hardly anything during
his visit； which did not exceed half an
hour； and the host himself could scarcely
muster courage enough to utter the few
necessary salutations and courtesies： and；
indeed； such was the nervous terror which
the presence of Vanderhausen inspired；
that very little would have made all his
entertainers fly bellowing from the room。
They had not so far lost all self…
possession； however； as to fail to observe two
strange peculiarities of their visitor。
During his stay he did not once suffer
his eyelids to close； nor even to move in
the slightest degree； and further； there
was a death…like stillness in his whole
person； owing to the total absence of the
heaving motion of the chest； caused by the
process of respiration。
These two peculiarities； though when
told they may appear trifling； produced a
very striking and unpleasant effect when
seen and observed。 Vanderhausen at
length relieved the painter of Leyden of
his inauspicious presence； and with no
small gratification the little party heard the
street…door close after him。
'Dear uncle；' said Rose； 'what a frightful
man！ I would not see him again for
the wealth of the States！'
'Tush； foolish girl！' said Douw； whose
sensations were anything but comfortable。
'A man may be as ugly as the devil； and
yet if his heart and actions are good； he
is worth all the pretty…faced； perfumed
puppies that walk the Mall。 Rose； my
girl； it is very true he has not thy pretty
face； but I know him to be wealthy and
liberal； and were he ten times more
ugly'
'Which is inconceivable；' observed Rose。
'These two virtues would be sufficient；'
continued her uncle； 'to counterbalance all
his deformity； and if not of power sufficient
actually to alter the shape of the features；
at least of efficacy enough to prevent one
thinking them amiss。'
'Do you know； uncle；' said Rose； 'when
I saw him standing at the door； I could
not get it out of my head that I saw the
old； painted； wooden figure that used to
frighten me so much in the church of St。
Laurence of Rotterdam。'
Gerard laughed； though he could not
help inwardly acknowledging the justness
of the comparison。 He was resolved；
however； as far as he could； to check his
niece's inclination to ridicule the ugliness
of her intended bridegroom； although he
was not a little pleased to observe that she
appeared totally exempt from that mysterious
dread of the stranger which； he could
not disguise it from himself； considerably
affected him； as also his pupil Godfrey
Schalken。
Early on the next day there arrived；
from various quarters of the town； rich
presents of silks； velvets； jewellery； and so
f