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Ursus had made his arrangements with the tavern keeper, Master Nicless, who, owing to his respect for the law, would not admit the wolf without charging him extra. The placard, "Gwynplaine, the Laughing Man," taken from its nail in the Green Box, was hung up close to the sign of the inn. The sitting-room of the tavern had, as we have seen, an inside door which opened into the court.
They cannot help insulting us, and this constitutes their use. They cannot hold their tongues, and thus keep the public awake. The crowds which flocked to "Chaos Vanquished" increased daily. Ursus kept what Master Nicless had said of intriguers and complaints in high places to himself, and did not tell Gwynplaine, lest it should trouble the ease of his acting by creating anxiety.
"I have not remarked it." Master Nicless made an observation in an undertone, no doubt touching the intimacy between the ducal carriage and Tom-Jim-Jack a remark which, as it might have been irreverent and dangerous, Ursus took care not to hear. Still Ursus was too much of an artist not to regret Tom-Jim-Jack. He felt some disappointment.
Master Nicless, saddened and humiliated at seeing the folks who had come to see "The Laughing Man" turned back and crowding towards other caravans, had shut the door of the inn.
Master Nicless had seen the lady, too, quite close. A kind of queen. Such wealth gives beauty. The skin is whiter, the eye more proud, the gait more noble, and grace more insolent. Nothing can equal the elegant impertinence of hands which never work.
The dawn lighted up the front of the Tadcaster Inn. Master Nicless had not gone to bed, because sometimes the same occurrence produces sleeplessness in many. Troubles radiate in every direction. Throw a stone in the water, and count the splashes. Master Nicless felt himself impeached. It is very disagreeable that such things should happen in one's house.
He had tapped, he had knocked, he had kicked the door; now he flung himself against it. This recalled to him a distant memory of Weymouth, when, a little child, he had carried Dea, an infant, in his arms. He battered the door again violently, like a lord, which, alas! he was. The house remained silent. He felt that he was losing his head. He no longer thought of caution. He shouted, "Nicless!
"And do you know," said the tavern-keeper, "the most wonderful thing of all?" "What?" said Ursus. "I saw her get into her carriage." "What then?" "She did not get in alone." "Nonsense!" "Some one got in with her." "Who?" "Guess." "The king," said Ursus. "In the first place," said Master Nicless, "there is no king at present. We are not living under a king.
Master Nicless, uneasy, and foreseeing misfortunes, meditated. He regretted having received such people into his house. Had he but known that they would end by getting him into mischief! But the question was how to get rid of them? He had given Ursus a lease. What a blessing if he could free himself from it! How should he set to work to drive them out?
He looked at Dea. She was silent, and grew paler every moment, as she stood perfectly motionless. Her sightless eyes remained fixed in depths of thought. Fortunately, something happened. Ursus saw Master Nicless in the yard, with a candle in his hand, beckoning to him. Master Nicless had not assisted at the end of the phantom comedy played by Ursus.
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