midnight
On the evening on which Sir Kenneth assumed his post , Richard , after the stormy event which disturbed its tranquillity , had retired to rest in the plenitude of confidence inspired by his unbounded courage and the superiority which he had displayed in carrying the point he aimed at in presence of the whole Christian host and its leaders , many of whom , he was aware , regarded in their secret souls the disgrace of the Austrian Duke as a triumph over themselves ; so that his pride felt gratified , that in prostrating one enemy he had mortified a hundred . Another monarch would have doubled his guards on the evening after such a scene , and kept at least a part of his troops under arms . But Coeur de Lion dismissed , upon the occasion , even his ordinary watch , and assigned to his soldiers a donative of wine to celebrate his recovery , and to drink to the Banner of Saint George ; and his quarter of the camp would have assumed a character totally devoid of vigilance and military preparation , but that Sir Thomas de Vaux , the Earl of Salisbury , and other nobles , took precautions to preserve order and discipline among the revellers . The physician attended the King from his retiring to bed till midnight was past , and twice administered medicine to him during that period , always previously observing the quarter of heaven occupied by the full moon , whose influences he declared to be most sovereign , or most baleful , to the effect of his drugs . It was three hours after midnight ere El Hakim withdrew from the royal tent , to one which had been pitched for himself and his retinue . In his way thither he visited the tent of Sir Kenneth of the Leopard , in order to see the condition of his first patient in the Christian camp , old Strauchan , as the knight 's esquire was named . Inquiring there for Sir Kenneth himself , El Hakim learned on what duty he was employed , and probably this information led him to Saint George 's Mount , where he found him whom he sought in the disastrous circumstances alluded to in the last chapter .