Vallanceyhadhailedhimcheerily。
\"Thedayisyours,Dick,\"hehadcried,whenRichardenteredthelibrarywhereheawaitedhim。\"WildWildinghasriddentoTauntonthismorningandistobebackbynoon。Odsbud,Dick！—twentymilesandmoreinthesaddlebeforecomingontheground。Heardyoueverofthelikemadness？
He\'llbestiffasabroom—handle—aneasyvictim。
Richardlistened,stared,and,findingVallancey\'seyesfixedsteadilyuponhim,attemptedasmileandachievedahorriblegrimace。
\"Whatailsyou,man？\"criedhissecond,andcaughthimbythewrist。