you that your illness mars the mainspring of their enterprise; a
mangonel will work without screw and lever better than the
Christian host without King Richard."

"Thou flatterest me, De Vaux," said Richard, and not insensible
to the power of praise, he reclined his head on the pillow with a
more deliberate attempt to repose than he had yet exhibited. But
Thomas de Vaux was no courtier; the phrase which had offered had
risen spontaneously to his lips, and he knew not how to pursue
the pleasing theme so as to soothe and prolong the vein which he
had excited. He was silent, therefore, until, relapsing into his
moody contemplations, the King demanded of him sharply,
"Despardieux! This is smoothly said to soothe a sick man; but
does a league of monarchs, an assemblage or nobles, a convocation
of all the chivalry of Europe, droop with the sickness of one
man, though he chances to be King of England? Why should
Richard's illness, or Richard's death, check the march of thirty
thousand men as brave as himself? When the master stag is struck
down, the herd do not disperse upon his fall; when the falcon
strikes the leading crane, another takes the guidance of the
phalanx. Why do not the powers assemble and choose some one to
whom they may entrust the guidance of the host?"

"Forsooth, and if it please your Majesty," said De Vaux, "I hear
consultations have been held among the royal leaders for some
such purpose."

"Ha!" exclaimed Richard, his jealousy awakened, giving his
mental irritation another direction, "am I forgot by my allies
ere I have taken the last sacrament? Do they hold me dead