their wave of panic reached a sharp crescendo to unleash an echoing chorus of nervous man-giggles : the noblemen , the guards , and the king all tittered frenetically , and in spite of themselves , as though engulfed in this most demented of hellfires , succumbing to its oppressive dread , writhing in ludicrous torment at its fury as young emmanuels questioning eyes pierced uneven holes through baxters numb , meaty noggin .