of all the saints in the calendar, defied him to mortal com-bat. At this juncture the chamberlain returned with the light, and seeing the king thus inflicting summary justice upon the leech, despite his own vexation burst into a hearty laugh, in which Richard, having already expended the su-perabundance of his choler, as soon as he comprehended the state of the case, joined with the greatest glee. The doctor meanwhile failed to see the point of the joke, and rubbing his head, declared with professional authority that nothing could be worse for the patient than such immode-rate exercise and laughter. Picking up the cup, with a rueful countenance he mixed a fresh potion, which the fa-cetious monarch drank to his health, and so composed him-self again to rest. Cœur de Lion received his ring when it was found upon the floor, without any sign of surprise, and readily account-ed for its loss, saying, " Our royal signet is scarcely safe upon this emaciated hand, especially since we are liable to do battle for Christendom without gauntlet or sword." The castigation which he had given the doctor put him in such high good humor, that he swallowed the necessary nostrums with great facility, and the worthy leech fully appreciating this part of the joke availed himself of the king's unwont-ed condescension, to administer those nauseous restoratives which the monarch had before obstinately refused. • 240 HEROINES OF THE CRUSADES.