The Man Who Laughs

by Victor Hugo

  Gwynplaine, in spite of his bewildered state in which he felt quite overcome, remarked the gorgeously attired footmen, and asked the Usher of the Black Rod:

  "Whose livery is that?"

  He answered:

  "Yours, my lord."

  The House of Lords was to sit that evening. Curia erai serena, run the old records. In England parliamentary work is by preference undertaken at night. It once happened that Sheridan began a speech at midnight and finished it at sunrise.

  The two postchaises returned to Windsor. Gwynplaine's carriage set out for London.

  This ornamented four-horse carriage proceeded at a walk from Brentford to London, as befitted the dignity of the coachman.

  Gwynplaine's servitude to ceremony was beginning in the shape of his solemn-looking coachman.

  The delay was, moreover, apparently prearranged; and we shall see presently its probable motive.

  Night was falling, though it was not quite dark, when the carriage stopped at the King's Gate, a large sunken door between two turrets, connecting Whitehall with Westminster.

  The escort of gentlemen pensioners formed a circle around the carriage.

  A footman jumped down from behind it and opened the door.

  The Usher of the Black Rod, followed by the officer carrying the cushions, got out of the carriage, and addressed Gwynplaine.

  "My lord, be pleased to alight. I beg your lordship to keep your hat on."

  Gwynplaine wore under his traveling cloak the suit of black silk, which he had not changed since the previous evening. He had no sword.

  He left his cloak in the carriage.

  Under the arched way of the King's Gate there was a small side door, raised some few steps above the road.

  In ceremonial processions the greatest personage never walks first.

  The Usher of the Black Rod, followed by his officer, walked first.

  Gwynplaine followed.

  They ascended the steps, and entered by the side door.

  Presently they were in a wide circular room, with a pillar in the centre, the lower part of a turret. The room, being on the ground floor, was lighted by narrow windows in the pointed arches, which served but to make darkness visible. Twilight often lends solemnity to a scene. Obscurity is in itself majestic.

  In this room, thirteen men, disposed in ranks, were standing; three in the front row, six in the second row, and four behind.

  In the front row one wore a crimson velvet gown; the other two, gowns of the same colour, but of satin. All three had the arms of England embroidered on their shoulders. The second rank wore tunics of white silk, each one having a different coat-of-arms emblazoned in front. The last row were clad in black silk, and were thus distinguished. The first wore a blue cape. The second had a scarlet St. George embroidered in front. The third, two embroidered crimson crosses, in front and behind. The fourth had a collar of black sable fur. A11 were uncovered, wore wigs, and carried swords.

  Their faces were scarcely visible in the dim light, neither could they see Gwynplaine's face.

  The Usher of the Black Rod, raising his wand, said:

  "My Lord Fermain Clancharlie, Baron Clancharlie and Hunkerville, I, the Usher of the Black Rod, first officer of the presence chamber, hand your lordship over to Garter King-at-Arms."

  The person clothed in velvet, quitting his place in the ranks, bowed to the ground before Gwynplaine, and said:

  "My Lord Fermain Clancharlie, I am Garter, Principal King-at-Arms of England. I am the officer appointed and installed by his grace the Duke of Norfolk, hereditary Earl Marshal. I have sworn obedience to the kind. Seers. and knights of the garter. The day of my installation, when the Earl Marshal of England anointed me by pouring a goblet of wine on my head, I solemnly promised to be attentive to the nobility; to avoid bad company; to excuse, rather than accuse, gentlefolks; and to assist widows and virgins. It is I who have the charge of arranging the funeral ceremonies of peers, and the supervision of their armorial bearings. I place myself at the orders of your lordship."

  The first of those wearing satin tunics, having bowed deeply, said:

  "My lord, I am Clarenceaux, Second King-at-Arms of England. I am the officer who arranges the obsequies of nobles below the rank of peers. I am at your lordship's disposal."

  The other wearer of the satin tunic bowed, and spoke thus:

  "My lord, I am Norroy, Third King-at-Arms of England. Command me."

  The second row, erect and without bowing, advanced a pace. The right-hand man Said:

  "My lord, we are the six Dukes-at-Arms of England. I am York."

  Then each of the heralds, or Dukes-at-Arms, speaking in turn, proclaimed his title.

  "I am Lancaster."

  "I am Richmond."

  "I am Chester."

  "I am Somerset."

  "I am Windsor."

  The coats-of-arms embroidered on their breasts were those of the counties and towns from which they took their names.

  The third rank, dressed in black, remained silent. Garter King-at-Arms, pointing them out to Gwynplaine, said:

  "My lord, these are the four Pursuivants-at-Arms. Blue Mantle."

  The man with the blue cape bowed.

  "Rouge Dragon."

  He with the St. George inclined his head.

  "Rouge Croix."

  He with the scarlet crosses saluted.

  "Portcullis."

  He with the sable fur collar made his obeisance.

  On a sign from the King-at-Arms, the first of the pursuivants, Blue Mantle, stepped forward and received from the officer of the Usher the cushion of silver cloth, and crown-emblazoned portfolio. And the King-at-Arms said to the Usher of the Black Rod:

  "Proceed; I leave in your hands the introduction of his lordship!"

  The observance of these customs, and also of others which will now be described, were the old ceremonies in use prior to the time of Henry VIII, and which Anne for some time attempted to revive. There is nothing like it in existence now. Nevertheless, the House of Lords thinks that it is unchangeable; and, if Conservatism exists anywhere, it is there.

  It changes, nevertheless. E pur si muove.

  For instance, what has become of the may-pole--which the citizens of London erected on the 1st of May, when the peers went down to the House? The last one was erected in 1713. Since then the may-pole has disappeared. Disuse.

  Outwardly, unchangeable; inwardly, mutable. Take, for example, the title of Albemarle. It sounds eternal. Yet it has been through six different families--Odo, Mandeville, Bethune, Plantagenet, Beauchamp, Monck. Under the title of Leicester five different names have been merged--Beaumont, Breose, Dudley, Sidney, Coke. Under Lincoln, six, under Pembroke, seven. The families change, under unchanging titles. A superficial historian believes in immutability. In reality it does not exist. Man can never be more than a wave; humanity is the ocean.

  Aristocracy is proud of what women consider a reproach--age! Yet both cherish the same illusion, that they do not change.

  It is probable the House of Lords will not recognise itself in the foregoing description, nor yet it that which follows, thus resembling the once pretty woman who objects to having any wrinkles. The mirror is ever a scapegoat, yet its truths can not be contested.

  To portray exactly constitutes the duty of a historian.

  The King-at-Arms, turning to Gwynplaine, said:

  "Be pleased to follow me, my lord."

  And he added:

  "You will be saluted. Your lordship, in returning the salute, will be pleased merely to raise the brim of your hat."

  They moved off, in procession, toward a door at the far side of the room.

  The Usher of the Black Rod walked in front; then Blue Mantle, carrying the cushion; then the King-at-Arms; and after him came Gwynplaine, wearing his hat.

  The rest, kings-at-arms, heralds, and pursuivants, remained in the circular room.

  Gwynplaine, preceded by the Usher of the Black Rod, and escorted by the King-a
t-Arms, passed from room to room, in a direction which it would now be impossible to trace, the old Houses of Parliament having been pulled down.

  Among others, he crossed that Gothic state-chamber in which took place the last meeting of James II and Monmouth, and whose walls witnessed the useless debasement of the cowardly nephew at the feet of his vindictive uncle. On the walls of this chamber hung, in chronological order, nine full-length portraits of former peers, with their dates--Lord Nansladron, 1805; Lord Baliol, 1306; Lord Benestede, 1314; Lord Cantilupe, 1356; Lord Montbegon, 1857; Lord Tibotot, 1373; Lord Zouch of Codnor, 1615; Lord Bella-Aqua, with no date; Lord Harren and Surrey, Count of Blois, also without date.

  It being now dark, lamps were burping at intervals in the galleries. Brass chandeliers, with wax candles, illuminated the rooms, lighting them like the side aisles of a church.

  None but officials were present.

  In one room, which the procession crossed, stood, with heads respectfully lowered, the four clerks of the signet, and the Clerk of the Council.

  In another room stood the distinguished Knight Banneret, Philip Sydenham of Brympton, in Somersetshire. The Knight Banneret is a title conferred in time of war, under the unfurled royal standard.

  In another room was the senior baronet of England, Sir Edmund Bacon, of Suffolk, heir of Sir Nicholas Bacon, styled, Primus baronetorum Anglicæ. Behind Sir Edmund was an armour-bearer with an arquebuse, and an esquire carrying the arms of Ulster, the baronets being the hereditary defenders of the province of Ulster in Ireland.

  In another room was the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with his four accountants, and the two deputies of the Lord Chamberlain, appointed to cleave the tallies. [1]

  At the entrance of a corridor covered with matting which was the communication between the Lower and the Upper House, Gwynplaine was saluted by Sir Thomas Mansell, of Margam, Comptroller of the Queen's Household and Member for Glamorgan; and at the exit from the corridor by a deputation of one for every two of the Barons of the Cinque Ports, four on the right and four on the left, the Cinque Ports being eight in number. William Hastings did obeisance for Hastings; Matthew Aylmor, for Dover; Josias Burchett, for Sandwich; Sir Philip Boteler, for Hythe; John Brewer, for New Rumney; Edward Southwell, for the town of Rye; James Hayes, for Winchelsea; George Nailor, for Seaford.

  As Gwynplaine was about to return the salute, the King-at-Arms reminded him in a low voice of the etiquette:

  "Only the brim of your hat, my lord."

  Gwynplaine did as directed.

  He now entered the so-called Painted Chamber in which there was no painting except a few of saints, and among them St. Edward, in the high arches of the long and deep-pointed windows, which were divided by what formed the ceiling of Westminster Hall and the floor of the Painted Chamber.

  On the far side of the wooden barrier which divided the room from end to end stood the three Secretaries of State, men of mark. The functions of the first of these officials comprised the supervision of all affairs relating to the south of England, Ireland, the Colonies, France, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Turkey. The second had charge of the north of England, and watched affairs in the Low Countries, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, and Russia. The third, a Scot, had charge of Scotland. The two first-mentioned were English: one of them being the Honourable Robert Harley, Member for the borough of New Radnor. A Scotch member, Mungo Graham, Esquire, a relation of the Duke of Montrose, was present. All bowed, without speaking, to Gwynplaine, who returned the salute by touching his hat.

  The barrier-keeper lifted the wooden arm which, pivoting on a hinge, formed the entrance to the far side of the Painted Chamber, where stood the long table, covered with green cloth, reserved for peers.

  A branch of lighted candles stood on the table.

  Gwynplaine, preceded by the Usher of the Black Rod, Garter King-at-Arms, and Blue Mantle, penetrated into this privileged compartment.

  The barrier-keeper closed the opening immediately Gwynplaine had passed.

  The King-at-Arms, having entered the precincts of the privileged compartment, halted.

  The Painted Chamber was a spacious apartment.

  At the further end, upright, beneath the royal escutcheon which was placed between the two windows, stood two old men, in red velvet robes, with two rows of ermine trimmed with gold lace on their shoulders, and wearing wigs, and hats with white plumes. Through the openings of their robes might be detected silk garments and sword hilts.

  Motionless behind them stood a man dressed in black silk, holding on high a great mace of gold surmounted by a crowned lion.

  It was the Mace-bearer of the Peers of England.

  The lion is their crest. "Et les Lions ce sont les Barons et li Per," runs the manuscript chronicle of Bertrand Duguesclin.

  The King-at-Arms pointed out the two persons in velvet, and whispered to Gwynplaine:

  "My lord, these are your equals. Be pleased to return their salute exactly as they make it. These two peers are barons, and have been named by the Lord Chancellor as your sponsors. They are very old, and almost blind. They will, themselves, introduce you to the House of Lords. The first is Charles Mildmay, Lord Fitzwalter, sixth on the roll of barons; the second is Augustus Arundel, Lord Arundel of Trerice, thirty-eighth on the roll of barons."

  The King-at-Arms having advanced a step toward the two old men, proclaimed:

  "Fermain Clancharlie, Baron Clancharlie, Baron Hunkerville, Marquis of Corleone, in Sicily, greets your lordships!"

  The two peers raised their hats to the full extent of the arm, and then replaced them.

  Gwynplaine did the same.

  The Usher of the Black Rod stepped forward, followed by Blue Mantle and Garter King-at-Arms.

  The Mace-bearer took up his post in front of Gwynplaine, the two peers at his side, Lord Fitzwalter on the right, and Lord Arundel of Trerice on the left. Lord Arundel, the elder of the two, was very feeble. He died the following year, bequeathing to his grandson John, a minor, the title, which became extinct in 1768.

  The procession, leaving the Painted Chamber, entered a gallery in which were rows of pilasters, and between the spaces were sentinels, alternately pikemen of England and halberdiers of Scotland.

  The Scotch halberdiers were magnificent killed soldiers, worthy to encounter later on at Fontenoy the French cavalry, and the royal cuirassiers, whom their colonel thus addressed: "Messieurs les maîtres, assurez vos chapeaux. Nous allons avoir l'honneur de charger."

  The captain of these soldiers saluted Gwynplaine, and the peers, his sponsors, with their swords. The men saluted with their pikes and halberds.

  At the end of the gallery shone a large door, so magnificent that its two folds seemed to be masses of gold.

  On each side of the door there stood, upright and motionless, men who were called doorkeepers.

  Just before you came to this door, the gallery widened out into a circular space.

  In this space was an armchair with an immense back, and on it, judging by his wig and from the amplitude of his robes, was a distinguished person. It was William Cowper, Lord Chancellor of England.

  To be able to cap a royal infirmity with a similar one has its advantages. William Cowper was short-sighted. Anne had also defective sight, but in a lesser degree. The near-sightedness of William Cowper found favour in the eyes of the short-sighted queen, and induced her to appoint him Lord Chancellor and Keeper of the Royal Conscience.

  William Cowper's upper lip was thin, and his lower one thick--a sign of semi-good-nature.

  This circular space was lighted by a lamp hung from the ceiling.

  The Lord Chancellor was sitting gravely in his large armchair; at his right was the Clerk of the Crown, and at his left the Clerk of the Parliament.

  Each of the clerks had before him an open register and an inkhorn.

  Behind the Lord Chancellor was his mace-bearer, holding the mace with the crown on the top, besides the train-bearer and purse-bearer, in large wigs. A
ll these officers are still in existence.

  On a little stand, near the woolsack, was a sword, with a gold hilt and sheath, and belt of crimson velvet.

  Behind the Clerk of the Crown was an officer holding in his hands the coronation robe.

  Behind the Clerk of the Parliament another officer held a second robe, which was that of a peer.

  The robes, both of scarlet velvet, lined with white silk, and having bands of ermine trimmed with gold lace over the shoulders, were similar, except that the ermine band was wider on the coronation robe.

  The third officer, who was the librarian, carried on a square of Flanders leather the red book, a little volume bound in red morocco, containing a list of the peers and commons, besides a few blank leaves and a pencil, which it was the custom to present to each new member on his entering the House.

  Gwynplaine, between the two peers, his sponsors, brought up the procession, which stopped before the wool-sack.

  The two peers, who introduced him, uncovered their heads, and Gwynplaine did likewise.

  The King-at-Arms received from the hands of Blue Mantle the cushion of silver cloth, knelt down, and presented the black portfolio on the cushion to the Lord Chancellor.

  The Lord Chancellor took the black portfolio, and handed it to the Clerk of the Parliament.

  The Clerk received it ceremoniously, and then sat down.

  The Clerk of the Parliament opened the portfolio, and arose.

  The portfolio contained the two usual messages--the royal patent addressed to the House of Lords, and the writ of summons.

  The Clerk read aloud these two messages with respectful deliberation, standing.

  The writ of summons, addressed to Fermain Lord Clancharlie, concluded with the accustomed formalities:

  "We strictly enjoin you, on the faith and allegiance that you owe, to come and take your place in person among the prelates and peers sitting in our Parliament at Westminster, for the purpose of giving your advice, in all honour and conscience, on the business of' the kingdom and of the Church."