sfied. I own frankly that fortune favours me. Of what folly was I
guilty when I picked up that little boy and girl! We were so quiet
before, Homo and I! What had they to do in my caravan, the little
blackguards? Didn't I brood over them when they were young! Didn't I
draw them along with my harness! Pretty foundlings, indeed; he as ugly
as sin, and she blind of both eyes! Where was the use of depriving
myself of everything for their sakes? The beggars grow up, forsooth, and
make love to each other. The flirtations of the deformed! It was to that
we had come. The toad and the mole; quite an idyl! That was what went on
in my household. All which was sure to end by going before the justice.
The toad talked politics! But now I am free of him. When the wapentake
came I was at first a fool; one always doubts one's own good luck. I
believed that I did not see what I did see; that it was impossible, that
it was a nightmare, that a day-dream was playing me a trick. But no!
Nothing could be truer. It is all clear. Gwynplaine is really in
prison. It is a stroke of Providence. Praise be to it! He was the
monster who, with the row he made, drew attention to my establishment
and denounced my poor wolf. Be off, Gwynplaine; and, see, I am rid of
both! Two birds killed with one stone. Because Dea will die, now that
she can no longer see Gwynplaine. For she sees him, the idiot! She will
have no object in life. She will say, 'What am I to do in the world?'
Good-bye! To the devil with both of them. I always hated the creatures!
Die, Dea! Oh, I am quite comfortable!"

CHAPTER II.

WHAT HE DID.

He returned to the Tadcaster Inn,

It struck half-past six. It was a little before twilight.

Master Nicless stood on his doorstep.

He had not succeeded, since the morning, in extinguishing the terror
which still showed on his scared face.

He perceived Ursus from afar.

"Well!" he cried.

"Well! what?"

"Is Gwynplaine coming back? It is full time. The public will soon be
coming. Shall we have the performance of 'The Laughing Man' this
evening?"

"I am the laughing man," said Ursus.

And he looked at the tavern-keeper with a loud chuckle.

Then he went up to the first floor, opened the window next to the sign
of the inn, leant over towards the placard about Gwynplaine, the
laughing man, and the bill of "Chaos Vanquished;" unnailed the one, tore
down the other, put both under his arm, and descended.

Master Nicless followed