Midnight
he said , after a brief pause . `` Doth Edward practise midnight murder ? Speak , who art thou ? '' `` Midnight murder , thou boasting fool ; I love thee not well enough to cheat the hangman of his prey , '' replied a harsh and grating voice , which , even without the removal of the cloak , would have revealed to Nigel 's astonished ears the Earl of Buchan . `` Ha ! I have startled thee -- thou didst not know the deadly enemy of thy accursed race ! '' `` I know thee now , my Lord of Buchan , '' replied the young man , calmly ; `` yet know I not wherefore thou art here , save to triumph over the fallen fortunes of thy foe ; if so , scorn on -- I care not .