Heartstone

'He doesn't want his little clerk telling us his secrets,' Barak said scoffingly. 'He need not fear. Feaveryear is loyal as a dog.'

'Have you got to know him any better?'

'All he seems willing to talk about is his salvation, the wickedness of the world, and how this journey is a waste of his honoured master's time.'

We looked up as Carswell approached us, a serious expression on his face. He bowed. 'Sir, I am sorry for the trouble last night. I wanted you to know, few think like Sulyard.'

'Thank you.'

He hesitated. 'May I ask you something?'

'If you wish.' I waved a hand to the bank beside me. I smiled encouragingly, expecting some legal query.

'I hear the London lawyers have their own band of players,' he said unexpectedly.

'Plays are often performed at the Inns of Court, but no, the actors' companies are independent bodies of men.'

'What sort of people are they?'

'A roistering lot, I believe, but they must work hard or they could not perform as they do.'

'Are they well paid?'

'No, badly. And life is hard in London these days. Have you a wish to be an actor, Carswell?'

His face reddened. 'I want to write plays, sir. I used to go and see the religious plays when they were allowed and as a boy I wrote little playlets of my own. I learned to write at the church school. They would have had me for a scholar, but my family is poor.'

'Most plays today are full of religious controversy, like John Bale's. It can be a dangerous occupation.'

'I want to write comedies, stories to make people laugh.'

'Did you write any of the naughty songs you sing?' Barak asked.

'Many are mine,' he said proudly.

'Most comedies in London are foreign,' I said. 'Italian mainly.'

'But why should there not be English ones too? Like old Chaucer?'

'By God, Carswell, you are a well-read fellow.'

'Archery and reading, sir, those were always my pastimes. To my parents' annoyance; they wanted me to work on the farm.' He pulled a face. 'I needed to get away, I was happy to join up. I thought once this war is over I might come to London. Maybe earn my bread with some players, learn more about how plays are made.'

I smiled. 'You have thought this out, I see. Ay, we need some English comic writing today if ever we did.'

We were interrupted by Snodin marching across. 'Come, Cars-well,' he snapped. 'We're going to have some archery practice in a field down the road. Leave your betters alone, you mammering prick.'

'He's doing no harm,' Barak said.

Snodin narrowed his eyes. 'He's a soldier and he'll do as I say.'

'Yes, Master Snodin.' Carswell hastily got up and followed the whiffler. I called after him, 'Ask for me at Lincoln's Inn when you return.'

'There's an unusual fellow,' I said to Barak. 'And you should be careful of antagonizing another officer. One was enough.'

'Arsehole. As for Carswell, you'd do better not to encourage him. Half those actor folk drink themselves into the gutter.'

'You are in a poor humour today. Missing Tamasin?'

'I wonder how she is faring all the time.' He looked at me. 'And I wonder what you are planning to do about that Ellen.'

I did not reply.

* * *

IT WAS AFTERNOON, and we had eaten by the roadside, before the cart was finally repaired. It took twenty men with ropes to reload the cannon. The cart pulled in to the side of the road to let the company past. We continued south, ever deeper into the Forest of Bere.

I made my way up to the head of the company, where Leacon rode with Sir Franklin. 'George,' I said, 'we will be parting shortly.'

'Ay. I am sorry for it.'

'And I. But before we go I wonder if I could ask another favour.'

'I will help if I can. What is it?'

'If Portsmouth is full of soldiers, I imagine a good proportion of those who served professionally in the past will be there.'

'Yes. Portsmouth is becoming the focus of all the military activity.'

'If you get the chance, I wonder if you could ask whether anyone ever heard of a man called William Coldiron. He is my steward, for the time being at least.' I told him the story of Coldiron and Josephine, how from what I had overheard in the tavern it seemed he had never married. 'If anyone knows his history, I would be interested to hear it. I do not believe his tales of killing the King at Flodden, but certainly he has been a soldier.'

'I will ask if I get the chance.'

'If you do, maybe you could write to me at home.'

'I will. And if you should come to Portsmouth while you're here, look for me. Though I will have a busy time keeping these fellows in order. I hear the town is chaos, full of foreign soldiers and sailors. The company will be pleased to see you too.'

'They do not all think me an unlucky hunchback?'

'Only a few joltheads like Sulyard.'

'Thank you. That means a lot.'

I rode back to the rear of the company. The road began slowly ascending and the pace slowed. I was half asleep in the saddle when Dyrick roughly shook my arm.

'We turn off here.'

I sat up. To our right a narrow lane led into deep, shadowed woodland. We pulled aside. I called out, 'George! We leave you here!'