Someone said you had been roughly mauled, and had even lost some teeth.

Is it so ?" "It is," the newcomer said, with an angry scowl.

"Any beauty I once may have had is gone forever.

I have lost three of my upper teeth, and two of my lower, and I am learning now to speak with my lips shut, so as to hide the gap." "But how came it about ?" "I was walking down a side street off the Strand, when four men sprang out and held my hands to my side, another snatched my watch and purse, and as I gave a cry for the watch, he smote me with the pommel of his rapier in my mouth, then throwing me on the ground the villains took to their heels together." The exclamations of commiseration and indignation which arose around, were abruptly checked by a loud laugh from Rupert.
There was a dead silence and Sir Richard Fulke, turning his eyes with fury towards the lad who had dared to jeer at his misfortune, demanded why he laughed.
"I could not help but laugh," Rupert said, "although doubtless it was unmannerly; but your worship's story reminded me so marvellously of the tale of the stout knight, Sir John Falstaff's adventure with the men of buckram." "What mean you ?" thundered Sir Richard.
"I mean, sir," Rupert said quietly, "that your story has not one word of truth in it.

I came upon you in that side street off the Strand, as you were trying to carry off by force, aided by a rascal named Captain Copper, a lady, whose name shall not be mentioned here.