The walls were always freshly whitewashed, and the lime was constantly renewed.

The stone floor was stained a deep brick red, and that, too, would often be applied freshly during the night.

At a time when the very word "sanitation" was unknown, Gilles had properly constructed conduits leading from an adjoining apartment to the castle ditch.

The chimney was wide as a peasant's whole house, and the vast fireplace could hold on its iron dogs an entire waggon-load of faggots.

Indeed, that amount was regularly consumed every day when the marshal deigned to abide at Machecoul for his health and in pursuance of his wonderful studies into the deep things of the universe.
"Bide here a moment," said Clerk Henriet, bending his body in a writhing contortion to listen to what might be going on inside the chamber; "I dare not take you in till I see whether my lord be in good case to receive you." So at the stair-head, by a window lattice which looked towards the chapel, Laurence stood and waited.