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. I would wager a dozen
of Rhenish, his worship would have
pleaded old acquaintance before the third
application.'

'Here he comes, sir,' said Schalken,
in a low admonitory tone; and instantly,
upon turning towards the door, Gerard
Douw observed the same figure which
had, on the day before, so unexpectedly
greeted the vision of his pupil
Schalken.

There was something in the air and
mien of the figure which at once satisfied
the painter that there was no mummery
in the case, and that he really stood in the
presence of a man of worship; and so, without
hesitation, he doffed his cap, and courteously
saluting the stranger, requested him
to be seated.