t is
thus that gods are made."

Then she touched his clothes.

"The esclavine," she said, "the cape. Nothing changed; all as it was
before."

Ursus, stupefied, delighted, smiling, drowned in tears, looked at them,
and addressed an aside to himself.

"I don't understand it in the least. I am a stupid idiot--I, who saw him
carried to the grave! I cry and I laugh. That is all I know. I am as
great a fool as if I were in love myself. But that is just what I am. I
am in love with them both. Old fool! Too much emotion--too much emotion.
It is what I was afraid of. No; it is that I wished for. Gwynplaine, be
careful of her. Yes, let them kiss; it is no affair of mine. I am but a
spectator. What I feel is droll. I am the parasite of their happiness,
and I am nourished by it."

Whilst Ursus was talking to himself, Gwynplaine exclaimed,--

"Dea, you are too beautiful! I don't know where my wits were gone these
last few days. Truly, there is but you on earth. I see you again, but as
yet I can hardly believe it. In this ship! But tell me, how did it all
happen? To what a state have they reduced you! But where is the Green
Box? They have robbed you. They have driven you away. It is infamous.
Oh, I will avenge you--I will avenge you, Dea! They shall answer for it.
I am a peer of England."

Ursus, as if stricken by a planet full in his breast, drew back, and
looked at Gwynplaine attentively.

"It is clear that he is not dead; but can he have gone mad?" and he
listened to him doubtfully.

Gwynplaine resumed.

"Be easy, Dea; I will carry my complaint to the House of Lords."

Ursus looked at him again, and struck his forehead with the tip of his
forefinger. Then making up his mind,--

"It is all one to me," he said. "It will be all right, all the same. Be
as mad as you like, my Gwynplaine. It is one of the rights of man. As
for me, I am happy. But how came all this about?"

The vessel continued to sail smoothly and fast. The night grew darker
and darker. The mists, which came inland from the ocean, were invading
the zenith, from which no wind blew them away. Only a few large stars
were visible, and they disappeared one after another, so that soon there
were none at all, and the whole sky was dark, infinite, and soft. The
river broadened until the banks on each side were nothing but two thin
brown lines mingling with the gloom. Out of all this shadow rose a
profound peace. Gwynplaine, half seated, held Dea in his embrace.