of a curious mixed pepper-and-salt color, descended far over his
shoulders. He was about four feet six in height and wore a
conical pointed cap of nearly the same altitude, decorated with a
black feather some three feet long. His doublet was prolonged
behind into something resembling a violent exaggeration of what
is now termed a "swallowtail," but was much obscured by the
swelling folds of an enormous black, glossy-looking cloak, which
must have been very much too long in calm weather, as the wind,
whistling round the old house, carried it clear out from the
wearer's shoulders to about four times his own length.

Gluck was so perfectly paralyzed by the singular appearance of
his visitor that he remained fixed without uttering a word,
until the old gentleman, having performed another and a more
energetic concerto on the knocker, turned round to look after his
flyaway cloak. In so doing he caught sight of Gluck's little
yellow head jammed in the window, with its mouth and eyes very
wide open indeed.

"Hollo!" said the little gentleman; "that's not the way to answer
the door. I'm wet; let me in."

To do the little gentleman justice, he WAS wet. His feather hung
down between his legs like a beaten puppy's tail, dripping like
an umbrella, and from the ends of his mustaches the water was
running into his waistcoat pockets and out again like a mill
stream.

"I beg pardon, sir," said Gluck, "I'm very sorry, but, I really
can't."