As they vanished from the door , still did these shadows toss their arms into the gloom of night with a dread expression of woe . Following the mimic representative of Hutchinson came a military figure holding before his face the cocked hat which he had taken from his powdered head , but his epaulettes and other insignia of rank were those of a general officer , and something in his mien reminded the beholders of one who had recently been master of the province-house and chief of all the land . `` The shape of Gage , as true as in a looking-glass ! '' exclaimed Lord Percy , turning pale . `` No , surely , '' cried Miss Joliffe , laughing hysterically ; `` it could not be Gage , or Sir William would have greeted his old comrade in arms . Perhaps he will not suffer the next to pass unchallenged . '' `` Of that be assured , young lady , '' answered Sir William Howe , fixing his eyes with a very marked expression upon the immovable visage of her grandfather . `` I have long enough delayed to pay the ceremonies of a host to these departing guests ; the next that takes his leave shall receive due courtesy . '' A wild and dreary burst of music came through the open door . It seemed as it the procession , which had been gradually filling up its ranks , were now about to move , and that this loud peal of the wailing trumpets and roll of the muffled drums were a call to some loiterer to make haste . Many eyes , by an irresistible impulse , were turned upon Sir William Howe , as if it were he whom the dreary music summoned to the funeral of departed power . `` See ! here comes the last , '' whispered Miss Joliffe , pointing her tremulous finger to the staircase . A figure had come into view as if descending the stairs , although so dusky was the region whence it emerged some of the spectators fancied that they had seen this human shape suddenly moulding itself amid the gloom . Downward the figure came with a stately and martial tread , and , reaching the lowest stair , was observed to be a tall man booted and wrapped in a military cloak , which was drawn up around the face so as to meet the napped brim of a laced hat ; the features , therefore , were completely hidden . But the British officers deemed that they had seen that military cloak before , and even recognized the frayed embroidery on the collar , as well as the gilded scabbard of a sword which protruded from the folds of the cloak and glittered in a vivid gleam of light . Apart from these trifling particulars there were characteristics of gait and bearing which impelled the wondering guests to glance from the shrouded figure to Sir William Howe , as if to satisfy themselves that their host had not suddenly vanished from the midst of them . With a dark flush of wrath upon his brow , they saw the general draw his sword and advance to meet the figure in the cloak before the latter had stepped one pace upon the floor . `` Villain , unmuffle yourself ! '' cried he .
`` You XXXXX no farther . ''
answered greeted laced pass pointing protruded reaching recognized seemed stepped