one o'clock
In an instant , the two young farmers were _ butt _ the house , and beside Tibby Haddow 's peat fire . In the course of a short , and , to all but themselves , an inaudible conversation , they learned that Lag himself , disguised as a common soldier , was in the next room , in close colloquy with a person clothed in grey duffle , with a broad bonnet on his head . From the description of the person , the two Closeburnians had no manner of doubt that the information obtained last night , in regard to the existence of a place of refuge in Glencairn , was now in the act of being communicated . `` At one o'clock ! '' said a well-known voice -- it was that of Lag , to a certainty . `` Yes , at one , '' responded the stranger , Watson -- whose voice was equally well-known to the farmers -- `` at one ! '' And they parted -- the one going east , and the other west -- and were lost in the darkness of night .