Free A Mystery of Errors by Simon Hawke Page B

cheated."
    "Then perhaps you would like to take this back, milord, so that you may seek proper recompense for the effrontery."
    "No, no, you keep it. At least for the present. I shall let it serve as an object lesson to me to seek a more qualified opinion before I make a similar purchase in the future. You intrigue me, Mr. Smythe. For a number of reasons. You shall have your forge. Come to my estate at your convenience. Most anyone of consequence in London can direct you. We shall put your claim to the test. If you make good upon it, I can warrant that I shall have employment for you. If not, then you shall owe me the price of the materials and forging costs. If you lack the funds, then I shall take it out in labor. Fair enough?"
    "More than fair, milord," Smythe said, with a small bow.
    "Excellent. Marlowe, be so good as to find a likely lad to have my carriage brought around. The coachman doubtless prudently drove off when that riot began outside, and he'll be somewhere on a nearby side street, or I'll know the reason why. Oh, and Mr. Shakespeare, if you are even half as confident in your abilities as your friend seems to be in his, then perhaps there is a chance that you might find employment with the Queen's Men. They are keen to compete with Marlowe here, and Kyd, and as yet have found no resident poet who can measure up. That morose old stewpot, Greene, is lately drowning his rather mediocre talent in a bottle, and Lyly's shot his bolt, I think. They could do with some new blood."
    "You will doubtless find the company disporting themselves at The Toad and Badger, in St. Helen's," Marlowe added. "Ask for one Dick Burbage and give him my compliments."
    "Thank you," Shakespeare said. "I shall do that, Mr. Marlowe. I am in your debt."
    "Well, now there's a switch," said Marlowe, with a grin. " 'Tis usually I who am in debt to others."
    "My carriage, Kit," said Worley.
    "Your word is my command, milord." Marlowe gave a sweeping bow, winked at Smythe, and left.
    "I think he likes you," Worley said.
    "And I like him, milord," Smythe said. "He seems a most amiable young man."
    Worley raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "Amiable? Aye, well, that's one way of putting it, I suppose. 'Tis a good thing he has talent, else I should find his company insufferable. But one must make allowances for talent. 'Tis a rare commodity, and often does not come without some baggage."
    "Your carriage awaits, milord," said Marlowe, sticking his head inside the door. " 'Twas standing by just around the corner."
    "Well, at least my coachman does his job properly," said Worley. He turned to the tavernkeeper. "You may send me a bill for the damages, but see that you do not inflate it."
    "Very good of you, milord," the tavernkeeper said.
    "Oh, and add something for these two young chaps," said Worley. "They look as if they could use a meal and a drink. Good night, gentlemen. And good luck to you."
    He followed Marlowe out the door.
    "What a splendid gentleman!" said Shakespeare. "Tavernkeeper, two ordinaries and a couple of ales! Ah, yes, indeed! There, you see, Tuck?
That
is the sort of patron a poet truly needs! A cultured man! An educated man! A titled man! A…"
    "A highwayman," murmured Smythe.
    "What?"
    "A highwayman," he repeated, keeping his voice low. "An outlaw. A road agent. A brigand."
    "What in God's name are you talking about?"
    "Do you recall when we met and I told you how I was accosted by a highwayman upon the road? And how instead of robbing me, because I had no money, he tossed a crown to me, instead?"
    "Yes, I recall you told me that. A singular occurrence. But what of it?"
    Smythe pointed toward the door. "That was the man."
"Sir William?"
"The very same."
    Shakespeare stared at him with disbelief.
"Sir William Worley?
Are you mad?" He glanced around quickly and lowered his voice when he noticed he was attracting some attention. "Tuck… Sir William Worley is one of the richest men in London! And a knight of the realm, no less."
    "Well,