Light Thickens

“All the same?” said Emily.

“Whatever the verdict is, I’ve an idea it won’t upset him as much as it would anyone else. He’ll write a book, I daresay. And he’ll adore the trial.”

“What about Barrabell?”

“Horrid little man with his tricks and ma

“Yes. All right. Too early to predict. Young William’s an actor. Maggie’s shaping well. And — good Lord, I’ve forgotten. It’s why I asked you to lunch in the first place. Wait a moment.”

He went indoors. There was a wild shriek from above and the three little boys came tumbling downstairs. They fell into a scrum and out of it and rushed round the house, William shouting, “The devil damn thee black, thou cream-fac’d loon!”

Alleyn called out: “Robin. May I interrupt?”

“Yes, sir?” said Robin warily.

“It’s about you knowing the fighter wasn’t Macbeth.”

“Did you guess?” said Robin, rallying.

“Only after you gave the hint. Macbeth and all his men wore black lambskin tunics, didn’t they?”

“Yes.”

“And Seyton wore a heavy belt to support the claidheamh-mor?”

“That’s right.”

“And when he took it off it showed the wear — lambskin all flattened and worn?”

“Yes. Only when his cloak-thing shifted.”

“I should have noticed and I didn’t. You’ve been a great help, Robin.”

“Whangee! Will I have to give evidence?”

“No. I just wanted to thank you.”

“You didn’t notice at the time, sir. I expect you would have,” said Robin kindly, “when you got around to it.”

“I hope so,” said Alleyn meekly.

“Hi!” Robin shouted. “William!” and tore off round the house.

Peregrine reappeared. He carried a long package carefully wrapped in brown paper. “Do you know what’s in here?” he asked.

Alleyn took it, passed his hands over it, and weighed it. “Dummy swords?” he asked.

“Right. The wooden swords used for rehearsing the fight while Gaston made the steel ones. Being Gaston’s, they are needlessly ornate and highly finished. Now read this.”

He gave Alleyn an open envelope addressed to “Master William Smith.”

“Read it,” he said.

Alleyn took it out.

Master William Smith.

I regret that I, having been much engaged of late, forgot the promise I made you at the begi