"Keep that in
earnest. The other will follow when we have cozened them."
Next morning Sir Walter could not resume the journey. When
Cotterell went to dress him he found his master taken with
vomits, and reeling like a drunkard. The valet ran to fetch Sir
Lewis, and when they returned together they found Sir Walter on
all fours gnawing the rushes on the floor, his face livid and
horribly distorted, his brow glistening with sweat.
Stukeley, in alarm, ordered Cotterell to get his master back to
bed and to foment him, which was done. But on the next day there
was no improvement, and on the third things were in far more
serious case. The skin of his brow and arms and breast was
inflamed, and covered with horrible purple blotches--the result
of an otherwise harmless ointment with which the French empiric
had supplied him.
When Stukeley beheld him thus disfigured, and lying apparently
inert and but half-conscious upon his bed, he backed away in
terror. The Vice-Admiral had seen afore-time the horrible
manifestations of the plague, and could not be mistaken here. He
fled from the infected air of his kinsman's chamber, and summoned
what physicians were available to pronounce and prescribe.
Pages:
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216