‘I took the liberty of inspecting your account book today, Nick’ he said.
‘You’ve every right to do so.’
‘I have to keep a wary eye on the company’s purse.’
‘Then you’ll want to know why two of the hired men were given their wages in advance,’ said Nicholas, anticipating his question. ‘I know that it is something on which you frown, but there were pressing needs in both cases.’
‘A house burnt down? A death in the family?’
‘Thankfully, nothing of that degree.’
‘Then the wages should not have been paid,’ argued Firethorn, ‘for those are the only reasons that would soften my heart. You establish a foolish precedent here, Nick.’
‘I acted in the best interests of the company.’
‘Did you?’
‘Would you rather that Nathan Curtis and Hugh Wegges were imprisoned for debt?’ asked Nicholas. ‘For that is what their creditors threatened them with. Where would we find such a willing carpenter and such a reliable tireman again?’
‘They would be a loss to us, I grant you.’
‘Then hear my tale.’
As quickly and succinctly as he could, Nicholas told him about their bad luck at the card table set up by Philomen Lavery. He also mentioned that Owen Elias’s win the previous night had led indirectly to his sluggishness that morning. Firethorn began to roll his eyes and gnash his teeth. He looked like Vincentio on the point of getting his revenge.
‘A pox on this card table!’ he declared. ‘Why did you not tell me of this before?’
‘I thought the landlord might have mentioned it to you.’
‘I wish he had, for I’d have forbidden most of the company from going anywhere near it. Some of the sharers may have money to lose — though I am certainly not one of them — but hired men cannot afford to hazard all on such low wages.’
‘I think that Nathan and Hugh both understand that now.’
‘So must the others. I’ll speak to them all later and issue a warning. As for Owen,’ he said, looking vengefully around the room but unable to see the Welshman, ‘I wondered why he was half asleep today. He should set an example to the others, not throw his money away at a card table.’
‘But he made a profit there. That was his downfall.’
Firethorn was quivering with anger. ‘If he turns up like that again,’ he said, ‘I’ll be his downfall. Death and damnation! We are beset by enough problems as it is. Has he forgotten what’s happened to Edmund, one of the pillars of this company? Take him away and Westfield’s Men begin to totter. Owen must help to support us.’
‘He knows that, and he has called on Edmund every day.’
‘Well, I hope that he did not turn up in that state, or Edmund, kind-hearted man that he is, would have climbed out of bed and put Owen into it instead. When he arrived this morning, that Welsh satyr might have clambered out of his grave.’
‘Owen is duly repentant.’
‘Let him rest his wagging pizzle for a while and we’d need no repentance.’
‘He accepts that,’ said Nicholas, wanting to protect his friend from Firethorn’s ire. ‘Owen will make amends on stage this afternoon. He is much better now. I wish that Edmund could recover just as quickly.’
‘I wish only that he will recover, Nick ‘
‘There’s no question but that he will.’
‘That’s not Margery’s opinion,’ said Firethorn uneasily. ‘My wife is no mean physician. She’s nursed grandparents and parents through their last hours on earth, and she knows the signs. When she called on him yesterday, Margery was shocked to see him. She believes we may have lost Edmund forever.’
‘Why does he not come into the house?’ asked Hoode. ‘You cannot leave him outside.’
‘Preben would prefer it that way,’ said Anne.
‘It makes me feel a poor host.’
‘You are in no fit state to welcome anyone, Edmund. He only came with me to deliver a hat that he made. Preben van Loew is very shy. He would be nervous company. Let him cool his heels at your door.’
Hoode was touched when Anne Hendrik came to his lodging but embarrassed that she should see him in such a weak condition. He had more colour in his face now and more animation in his body, but he was still troubled by fatigue. Like his other visitors, she was worried by what she saw. Slim by nature, Hoode had nevertheless lost weight. Anne had never seen his cheeks so hollowed, but she concealed her anxiety behind a warm smile. In every way, she was a much gentler presence than Margery Firethorn, and he was grateful. Anne helped to soothe him.
‘Nick tells me that you are sorely missed at the Queen’s Head,’ she said.
‘I miss them all in return.’
‘You’ll soon be able to take your place among them, Edmund.’
‘I begin to lose hope of that,’ he confided with a deep sigh. ‘This new herbal compound has cleared my head but done little to restore my strength. Look at me, Anne. I struggle to sit upright in my bed.’
‘I thought this second doctor had seen the disease before.’
‘He has. Doctor Rime called it by a Latin name that only he and Doctor Zander understood. They think it may be months before I regain my health. Months!’ he said in despair. ‘I cannot be away from Westfield’s Men for that long. It’s a betrayal of them.’
‘Do not even think that,’ said Anne. ‘To have you back with them, your fellows would gladly wait a year without complaint. You forget what you have already done for the company. While you lie here, the plays of Edmund Hoode still delight the audiences at the Queen’s Head.’
‘Old plays, Anne. Tired heroes. They cry out for something new to cheer.’
‘And you will give it to them in the fullness of time. Meanwhile, enjoy the rest that you have deserved. Nick will say the same when he calls here later on.’
‘Has he talked perchance of another play by Michael Grammaticus?’
‘He has done more than talk of it, Edmund,’ she said. ‘Last night, he brought it home to read it through. It’s called The Siege of Troy.’
Hoode brightened. ‘A subject I have always wanted to explore,’ he said. ‘It offers so much to any dramatist. Michael is steeped in Greek history and will sound deeper chords than I could manage. What did Nick say of it?’
‘Oh, he liked the play.’
‘Come, Anne. Do not think you will injure my feelings by heaping praise on another. I have no jealousy here. Why should I?’ he asked. ‘I admire Michael Grammaticus and his work. If this new tragedy of his can fill the gap that was left by me, it will bring me such pleasure and relief. Nick liked the play, you say?’
‘Very much. But the decision does not lie with him.’
‘To all intents, it does. Lawrence will lean heavily on his advice.’
‘Then I think the play will be bought.’
‘These tidings warm my heart,’ said Hoode with a smile. ‘Many authors have only one play of merit in them, and I feared it might be so with Michael. But he has the skill to build on his early triumph. Caesar’s Fall will have raised expectations. I delight in the knowledge that he has fulfilled them.’
His sincerity was apparent. Anne was struck once again by his readiness to praise the work of others. In a profession where pride and arrogance flourished, Hoode remained untouched by either and was refreshingly modest about his own achievements. Out of consideration for his feelings, she did not tell him what Nicholas had said about The Siege of Troy being superior to anything that he could write, but she sensed that even that judgment might not upset him. Eager to assist the career of another playwright, Hoode was more likely to pass on the comment to Michael Grammaticus in order to inspire him. She recalled something about the new author.
‘Is it true that he pays the doctor’s bills?’ she said.
‘Michael does more than that, Anne.’
‘Does he?’
‘He comes here every day to see how I am and to run any errands for me. I think that it is his way of thanking me for the encouragement I have been able to give.’