He began to regret that he had come to London. “‘Better’ is the enemy of ‘good,’” murmured he apart.  “I thought the proverb was ill-considered.  I was wrong.  Stupid truths are true truths.”

Against the coalition of powers—­merry-andrews taking in hand the cause of religion, and chaplains, indignant in the name of medicine—­the poor Green Box, suspected of sorcery in Gwynplaine and of hydrophobia in Homo, had only one thing in its favour (but a thing of great power in England), municipal inactivity.  It is to the local authorities letting things take their own course that Englishmen owe their liberty.  Liberty in England behaves very much as the sea around England.  It is a tide.  Little by little manners surmount the law.  A cruel system of legislation drowned under the wave of custom; a savage code of laws still visible through the transparency of universal liberty:  such is England.

The Laughing Man, “Chaos Vanquished,” and Homo might have mountebanks, preachers, bishops, the House of Commons, the House of Lords, her Majesty, London, and the whole of England against them, and remain undisturbed so long as Southwark permitted.

The Green Box was the favourite amusement of the suburb, and the local authorities seemed disinclined to interfere.  In England, indifference is protection.  So long as the sheriff of the county of Surrey, to the jurisdiction of which Southwark belongs, did not move in the matter, Ursus breathed freely, and Homo could sleep on his wolf’s ears.

So long as the hatred which it excited did not occasion acts of violence, it increased success.  The Green Box was none the worse for it, for the time.  On the contrary, hints were scattered that it contained something mysterious.  Hence the Laughing Man became more and more popular.  The public follow with gusto the scent of anything contraband.  To be suspected is a recommendation.  The people adopt by instinct that at which the finger is pointed.  The thing which is denounced is like the savour of forbidden fruit; we rush to eat it.  Besides, applause which irritates some one, especially if that some one is in authority, is sweet.  To perform, whilst passing a pleasant evening, both an act of kindness to the oppressed and of opposition to the oppressor is agreeable.  You are protecting at the same time that you are being amused.  So the theatrical caravans on the bowling-green continued to howl and to cabal against the Laughing Man.  Nothing could be better calculated to enhance his success.  The shouts of one’s enemies are useful and give point and vitality to one’s triumph.  A friend wearies sooner in praise than an enemy in abuse.  To abuse does not hurt.  Enemies are ignorant of this fact.  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.  If evil was to come, he would be sure to know it soon enough.