an hour after midnight
So there was kindness and good fellowship betwixt the thorp-dwellers and the riders , and the country folk told those others many tales of the evil deeds of the Burg-devils , as they called them ; but they could not tell them for certain whether they had gone down into Upmeads . As to Ralph and Ursula they , with Richard and Roger , were lodged in the headman 's house , and had good feast there , and he also talked over the where-abouts of the Burgers with the thorp-dwellers , but might have no certain tidings . So he and Ursula and his fellows went to bed and slept peacefully for the first hours of the night . An Old Acquaintance Comes From the Down Country to See Ralph But an hour after midnight Ralph arose , as his purpose was , and called Richard , and they took their swords and went forth and about the thorp and around its outskirts , and found naught worse than their own watch any where ; so they came back again to their quarters and found Roger standing at the door , who said to Ralph : `` Lord , here is a man who would see thee . '' `` What like is he ? '' said Ralph . Said Roger `` He is an old man , but a tough one ; however , I have got his weapons from him . ''