constructed--that is to say, a caravan large enough to carry a theatre,

and to sow science and art in the highways. Moreover, Ursus had been

able to add to the group composed of himself, Homo, Gwynplaine, and Dea,

two horses and two women, who were the goddesses of the troupe, as we

have just said, and its servants. A mythological frontispiece was, in

those days, of service to a caravan of mountebanks.

We are a wandering temple," said Ursus.

These two gipsies, picked up by the philosopher from amongst the

vagabondage of cities and suburbs, were ugly and young, and were called,

by order of Ursus, the one Phoebe, and the other Venus.

For these read Fibi and Vinos, that we may conform to English

pronunciation.

Phoebe cooked; Venus scrubbed the temple.

Moreover, on days of performance they dressed Dea.

Mountebanks have their public life as well as princes, and on these

occasions Dea was arrayed, like Fibi and Vinos, in a Florentine

petticoat of flowered stuff, and a woman's jacket without sleeves,

leaving the arms bare. Ursus and Gwynplaine wore men's jackets, and,

like sailors on board a man-of-war, great loose trousers. Gwynplaine

had, besides, for his work and for his feats of strength, round his neck

and over his shoulders, an esclavine of leather. He took charge of the

439

The Man Who Laughs