n.

Behind the man in the wig, the frightened landlord could just be
perceived in the shadow.

Without saying a word, a personification of the Muta Themis of the old
charters, the man stretched his right arm over the radiant Dea, and
touched Gwynplaine on the shoulder with the iron staff, at the same time
pointing with his left thumb to the door of the Green Box behind him.
These gestures, all the more imperious for their silence, meant, "Follow
me."

_Pro signo exeundi, sursum trahe_, says the old Norman record.

He who was touched by the iron weapon had no right but the right of
obedience. To that mute order there was no reply. The harsh penalties of
the English law threatened the refractory. Gwynplaine felt a shock under
the rigid touch of the law; then he sat as though petrified.

If, instead of having been merely grazed on the shoulder, he had been
struck a violent blow on the head with the iron staff, he could not have
been more stunned. He knew that the police-officer summoned him to
follow; but why? _That_ he could not understand.

On his part Ursus, too, was thrown into the most painful agitation, but
he saw through matters pretty distinctly. His thoughts ran on the
jugglers and preachers, his competitors, on informations laid against
the Green Box, on that delinquent the wolf, on his own affair with the
three Bishopsgate commissioners, and who knows?--perhaps--but that
would be too fearful--Gwynplaine's unbecoming and factious speeches
touching the royal authority.

He trembled violently.

Dea was smiling.

Neither Gwynplaine nor Ursus pronounced a word. They had both the same
thought--not to frighten Dea. It may have struck the wolf as well, for
he ceased growling. True, Ursus did not loose him.

Homo, however, was a prudent wolf when occasion required. Who is there
who has not remarked a kind of intelligent anxiety in animals? It may be
that to the extent to which a wolf can understand mankind he felt that
he was an outlaw.

Gwynplaine rose.

Resistance was impracticable, as Gwynplaine knew. He remembered Ursus's
words, and there was no question possible. He remained standing in front
of the wapentake. The latter raised the iron staff from Gwynplaine's
shoulder, and drawing it back, held it out straight in an attitude of
command--a constable's attitude which was well understood in those days
by the whole people, and which expressed the following order: "Let this
man, and no other, follow me.