midnight
The provost told me not four hours since , that the Douglas and he had agreed that the feud should be decided by a yeoman on either party and that our acquaintance , the Devil 's Dick , was to wave his gentry , and take up the cause for Douglas and the nobles , and that you or I should fight for the Fair City . Now , though I am the elder burgess , yet I am willing , for the love and kindness we have always borne to each other , to give thee the precedence , and content myself with the humbler office of stickler . '' Henry Smith , though angry , could scarce forbear a smile . `` If it is that which breaks thy quiet , and keeps thee out of thy bed at midnight , I will make the matter easy . Thou shalt not lose the advantage offered thee . I have fought a score of duels -- far , far too many . Thou hast , I think , only encountered with thy wooden soldan : it were unjust -- unfair -- unkind -- in me to abuse thy friendly offer .