The Vagabond Clown Read Online Free PDF Page A

has promised to do,’ said Nicholas, ‘is to make enquiry among his other friends to see if any of them were better acquainted with the fellow. At the very least, we should write to his family to tell them of the tragedy that has befallen them.’
    ‘That office should surely fall to Lord Westfield,’ said Firethorn.
    ‘I fancy that we might perform it more readily.’
    ‘Are our patron’s feathers so completely ruffled, Nick?’
    ‘His plumage is in danger of falling out. Because of what happened today, he thinks that his own life may now be in jeopardy. By the time I left him, he was shaking like a leaf.’
    ‘Did you apprise him of that fact that we mean to quit the city forthwith?’
    ‘I did. He thought it a sensible move.’
    ‘What of our visit to Dover?’ asked Hoode.
    ‘Lord Westfield still intends to be there when we play at the castle. He’ll send word to Lord Cobham that we’ll reachDover earlier than expected.’ Nicholas tasted his own wine. ‘When he has to advise a distinguished friend of a change of date, our patron will reach willingly for his pen. But he is less ready to pass on news of a murder to the family of Fortunatus Hope. I’d have thought it simple courtesy.’
    ‘Lord Westfield lends us his name, Nick,’ said Firethorn briskly. ‘Do not look for much else from him. He’s a man of strict limitations. But enough of him,’ he went on, slapping his thigh. ‘The decision is made. We take to the road the day after tomorrow. All that we need to debate is whom we take with us.’
    ‘As large a company as we may,’ said Elias.
    ‘A number of the hired men will have to be released, Owen.’
    ‘It seems an act of cruelty to discard them.’
    Firethorn shrugged. ‘Cruel but necessary. Some of the musicians will have to stand down as well. We can only take musicians who can also carry parts, or actors who can play an instrument.’
    Hoode finished eating his cake. ‘Our main concern is how to replace Barnaby,’ he said, brushing a few crumbs from his arm. ‘Nobody can match his talent but we must find a substitute who will not let us down.’
    ‘Is there nobody within the company?’ wondered Elias.
    ‘None, Owen. You can sing as well as Barnaby but I mean no disrespect when I say that you could never emulate his other skills. We must perforce look outside Westfield’s Men.’
    ‘What is the point?’ asked Firethorn. ‘The best clownsare already employed elsewhere. We could hardly lure one away from Banbury’s Men. Giles Randolph would not oblige us with the time of day, still less with one of his comedians. We’d meet the same rebuff from Havelock’s Men. They’d sooner part with their teeth than help us.’
    Elias frowned. ‘There must be
someone
who meets our needs.’
    ‘There is,’ said Nicholas, ‘and he is not attached to any company.’
    ‘Who is this paragon?’
    ‘Gideon Mussett.’
    ‘Why, of course!’ said Elias, jumping to his feet. ‘The very man. Giddy Mussett can make an audience laugh until they sue for relief. He is the one clown who could fully disguise the absence of Barnaby Gill.’ His face clouded. ‘Yet, wait awhile. I thought that Giddy was contracted to Conway’s Men.’
    ‘He was,’ agreed Nicholas, ‘but it seems that he fell out with them.’
    ‘Giddy Mussett falls out with everyone,’ said Firethorn ruefully. ‘Nobody can doubt his talent but it’s allied to every vice in the calendar.’
    ‘Barnaby is not exactly a saint,’ Elias noted, resuming his seat.
    ‘Perhaps not, Owen, but neither does he drink himself into a stupor, pick a fight on the slightest provocation and frequent the stews of Bankside.’
    ‘If all who love fine ale and fine women are to be excluded, then half of us will stay in London. On those twoaccounts,’ admitted the Welshman, ‘Giddy Mussett is no worse than Owen Elias. I, too, am cursed with hot blood and find it difficult to walk away from a quarrel.’
    ‘Mussett incites quarrels for the