midnight
Brutal and selfish though he might be , his bitterest enemies had never accused him of lack of physical courage . Indeed , he had been -- in the rollicking days of old that were gone -- celebrated for the display of very opposite qualities . He was an amateur at manly sports . He rejoiced in his muscular strength , and , in many a tavern brawl and midnight riot of his own provoking , had proved the fallacy of the proverb which teaches that a bully is always a coward . He had the tenacity of a bulldog -- once let him get his teeth in his adversary , and he would hold on till he died . In fact he was , as far as personal vigour went , a Gabbett with the education of a prize-fighter ; and , in a personal encounter between two men of equal courage , science tells more than strength . In the struggle , however , that was now taking place , science seemed to be of little value .