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 pass no farther . '' The figure , without blenching a hair 's - breadth from the sword which was pointed at his breast , made a solemn pause and lowered the cape of the cloak from about his face , yet not sufficiently for the spectators to catch a glimpse of it . But Sir William Howe had evidently seen enough . The sternness of his countenance gave place to a look of wild amazement , if not horror , while he recoiled several steps from the figure and let fall his sword upon the floor . The martial shape again drew the cloak about his features and passed on , but , reaching the threshold with his back toward the spectators , he was seen to stamp his foot and shake his clenched hands in the air .
It was afterward affirmed that Sir William Howe had repeated XXXXX selfsame gesture of rage and sorrow when for the last time , and as the last royal governor , he passed through the portal of the province-house .
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