At heart John was a thief.
He feared and hated his brother; so when Richard said, 'Brother, a word with you,' John tried to disguise apprehension in disgust.

The result was a very sick smile.
'Willingly, dear brother, and the more so--' he began; but Richard cut him short.
'What under the light of the sky is the matter with that lady ?' he asked him.
John had been preparing for that.

He raised his eyebrows and splayed out both his hands.

'Can you ask?
Eh, our Lord! Emotion--a stranger in a strange land--an access of the shudders--who knows women?
So long from France-dreadful of her brother--dreadful of you--so many things! a silly mind--ah, my brother!' Richard checked him testily.

'Put a point, put a point, you drown me in phrases; your explanations explain nothing.