nine o’clock
I ordered him to be within call , and , having given him a letter to be delivered to my uncle in case of accident , I repaired to the rendezvous , which was an inclosed field at a little distance from the highway . I found my antagonist had already taken his ground , wrapped in a dark horseman 's coat , with a laced hat flapped over his eyes ; but what was my astonishment , when , throwing off this wrapper , he appeared to be a person whom I had never seen before ! He had one pistol stuck in a leather belt , and another in his hand ready for action , and , advancing a few steps , called to know if I was ready -- I answered , ` No , ' and desired a parley ; upon which he turned the muzzle of his piece towards the earth ; then replaced it in his belt , and met me half way -- When I assured him he was not the man I expected to meet , he said it might be so : that he had received a slip of paper directed to Mr Wilson , requesting him to come hither ; and that as there was no other in the place of that name , he naturally concluded the note was intended for him , and him only -- I then gave him to understand , that I had been injured by a person who assumed that name , which person I had actually seen within the hour , passing through the street on horseback ; that hearing there was a Mr Wilson at the Red Lion , I took it for granted he was the man , and in that belief had writ the billet ; and I expressed my surprize , that he , who was a stranger to me and my concerns , should give me such a rendezvous , without taking the trouble to demand a previous explanation . He replied , that there was no other of his name in the whole country ; that no such horseman had alighted at the Red Lion since nine o'clock , when he arrived -- that having had the honour to serve his majesty , he thought he could not decently decline any invitation of this kind , from what quarter soever it might come , and that if any explanation was necessary , it did not belong to him to demand it , but to the gentleman who summoned him into the field . Vexed as I was at this adventure , I could not help admiring the coolness of this officer , whose open countenance prepossessed me in his favour . He seemed to be turned of forty ; wore his own short black hair , which curled naturally about his ears , and was very plain in his apparel -- When I begged pardon for the trouble I had given him , he received my apology with great good humour . -- He told me that he lived about ten miles off , at a small farm-house , which would afford me tolerable lodging , if I would come and take diversion of hunting with him for a few weeks ; in which case we might , perhaps , find out the man who had given me offence -- I thanked him very sincerely for his courteous offer , which , I told him , I was not at liberty to accept at present , on account of my being engaged in a family party ; and so we parted , with mutual professions of good will and esteem .