Heard you ever of the like madness?
He'll be stiff as a broom-handle--an easy victim." Richard listened, stared, and, finding Vallancey's eyes fixed steadily upon him, attempted a smile and achieved a horrible grimace.
"What ails you, man ?" cried his second, and caught him by the wrist.

He felt the quiver of the other's limb.

"Stab me!" quoth he, "you are in no case to fight.

What the plague ails you ?" "I am none so well this morning," answered Richard feebly.

"Lord Gervase's claret," he added, passing a hand across his brow.
"Lord Gervase's claret ?" echoed Vallancey in horror, as at some outrageous blasphemy.