He was not without hope of being able to move his jailor by a due administration of that which is generally more efficacious than all the flowers of elocution; but when he rose in the morning, he found his pockets had been carefully examined, and emptied of all his papers and cash.
The keeper entering, he inquired about these particulars, and was given to understand, that they were all safe deposited for his use, to be forthcoming at a proper season.

But, at present, as he should want nothing, he had no occasion for money.

The knight acquiesced in this declaration, and eat his breakfast in quiet.
About eleven, he received a visit from the physician, who contemplated his looks with great solemnity; and having examined his pulse, shook his head, saying, "Well, sir, how d'ye do ?--come, don't be dejected-- everything is for the best--you are in very good hands, sir, I assure you; and I dare say will refuse nothing that may be thought conducive to the recovery of your health." "Doctor," said our hero, "if it is not an improper question to ask, I should be glad to know your opinion of my disorder."-- "Oh! sir, as to that," replied the physician, "your disorder is a--kind of a--sir, 'tis very common in this country--a sort of a"-- --"Do you think my distemper is madness, doctor ?"--"O Lord, sir,--not absolute madness--no--not madness--you have heard, no doubt, of what is called a weakness of the nerves, sir,--though that is a very inaccurate expression; for this phrase, denoting a morbid excess of sensation, seems to imply that sensation itself is owing to the loose cohesion of those material particles which constitute the nervous substance, inasmuch as the quantity of every effect must be proportionable to its cause; now you'll please to take notice, sir, if the case were really what these words seem to import, all bodies, whose particles do not cohere with too great a degree of proximity, would be nervous; that is, endued with sensation.
Sir, I shall order some cooling things to keep you in due temperature; and you'll do very well--sir, your humble servant." So saying, he retired, and our adventurer could not but think it was very hard that one man should not dare to ask the most ordinary question without being reputed mad, while another should talk nonsense by the hour, and yet be esteemed as an oracle.
The master of the house finding Sir Launcelot so tame and tractable, indulged him after dinner with a walk in a little private garden, under the eye of a servant who followed him at a distance.

Here he was saluted by a brother-prisoner, a man seemingly turned of thirty, tall and thin, with staring eyes, a hook-nose, and a face covered with pimples.
The usual compliments having passed, the stranger, without further ceremony, asked him if he would oblige him with a chew of tobacco, or could spare him a mouthful of any sort of cordial, declaring he had not tasted brandy since he came to the house.

The knight assured him it was not in his power to comply with his request; and began to ask some questions relating to the character of their landlord, which the stranger represented in very unfavourable colours.