I longed to kill some one or to do some other deed of valiant and perilous villany.
Yolanda bent over the missive, quill in hand, but hesitated.

She changed her position on the chair, squaring herself before the parchment, and tried again, but she seemed unable to use the quill.

She placed it on the table and laughed nervously.
"I surely am a great fool," she said.

"When I take the quill in my hand, I tremble like a squire on his quintain trial.

I'll wait a moment, and grow calm again," she added, with a fluttering little laugh peculiar to her when she was excited.