Nicholas's plan to have his way with Alisoun invokes 3 stages. During the first stage, between Saturday and Sunday, what does Nicholas pretend to be?

Nichola pretends to be insane, and then convinces John that a flood like that in the Book of Genesis is coming, and he needs to make preparations. By Monday, John was so tired he fell fast asleep, while his wife and Nicholas climbed down from the tubs he'd placed to save them all, to make love in his bed.