At that moment the muscles of his nose began to twitch, and the end of that organ to lift and wrinkle.

This continued, and Tom began to evince a growing distress.

He looked appealingly, first at one and then another of the lords about him, and tears came into his eyes.

They sprang forward with dismay in their faces, and begged to know his trouble.

Tom said with genuine anguish-- "I crave your indulgence: my nose itcheth cruelly.