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This change of subject jolted John Henry, but he did his best to answer. "Well, I would need wigs and beards and paint, and all the rest of that; and swords and costumes, too." He did not need to consult the pages of the notebook he kept in his waistcoat pocket. "That would cost between forty and fifty pounds, all told. And then there would be the payment for the leading part. That would be another fifty pounds, if I am to do Romeo." He brightened as he said this, but his enthusiasm waned as he listened to himself, thinking that it would be impossible for him to earn enough to achieve his dreams.

Ragoczy tapped his small, well-shaped hands together, fingertips to fingertips. "Suppose," he said, "I should settle a portion of what I recover from this firm upon you for the service you have rendered me? From what you have discovered, the amount might be considerable."

Chagrined, John Henry shook his head. "It would appear that I have been bribed to show things in your favour, at least that could be claimed by the partners to the court. And the other clerks would probably believe the worst of me, because I am the newest of them. The partners might well have a claim against me, one that the courts would uphold."

"A legacy, then," said Ragoczy, undaunted by John Henry's protestation. "You must have a relative somewhere who might leave you an inheritance."

John Henry sighed. "Why should any of my family do that? Not that most of them have ten shillings to spare for anyone. And coming immediately after I have helped you, it would not be a useful ruse, in any case. Someone here would be bound to question how I came by it."

"Listen to me," said Ragoczy firmly. "Suppose that six months from now a distant shall we say uncle? of yours leaves you a hundred pounds. The money would be handled by a solicitor in the north, and there would be no question of compromising you, no matter what the courts might or might not do to the partners here. Could you then afford to start on your theatrical career?"

Little as he wanted to admit it, John Henry's pulse raced at the thought. He calculated what it would mean to him to have the money, and he set his prudence aside. "It might work, saying it was left to me, if it happened later." His excitement was building and he could not contain the satisfaction he felt.

"Six months, then. My London solicitors should have made all the necessary arrangements for recovering what is owed me by that time." Ragoczy watched John Henry with interest.

"Will things be unpleasant for you here when my claim against the firm has been filed? There could be police involvement, you understand."

"It is possible they could hold me to blame," said John Henry. "It is no secret that I have been copying your ledger. They will have to assume you had your information from me."

"But they need not know you discovered the theft," Ragoczy said persuasively. "I could charge my London solicitors to review the ledgers; I could require a full disclosure of the state of my account. That would spare you the brunt of the partners' displeasure. I do not like to think you would be punished for being an honest man, Mr Brodribb."

"When I leave the company, it will not matter," said John Henry.

"You think it will not, but it will, you know," said Ragoczy. "You do not want whispers following you, saying that you have abused the trust of your employer. Not even the theatre excuses such things, Mr Brodribb. Rumours are constant in the world of players, and you do not want to begin with a reputation that is tainted. Believe this."

John Henry could not help but agree. He realized that Ragoczy was not only generous but more knowledgeable than he had suspected. "All right. A distant relative could be invented. An uncle. In the north."

"You would do well to mention that you have heard the fellow is ailing, and dismiss any suggestion that you might benefit from his death," Ragoczy recommended. "That way when you express your amazement at the legacy, none of the clerks will link your good fortune to the assistance you have given me."

As he slapped his hand on his thigh, John Henry burst out, "By all that's famous! You've hit on the very means to make this happen." He laughed aloud. "You are a canny man, Count, a complete hand; a peevy cove as the lower orders would say."

"A peevy cove. What a delightful expression," said Ragoczy sardonically, his fine brows lifting. "Still, I have been called worse." For an instant a bleakness came over him; seeing it, John Henry was chilled.

He started to speak, coughed, and tried again. "I suppose you've learned, over the years, to guard yourself. That's why you're so quick to make the suggestions you have."

"There is some truth to that, yes," said Ragoczy, his dark, enigmatic eyes haunted. With a gesture he dismissed the gloom that threatened to overcome him. "But you will think you've been caught in one of Mrs Radcliffe's dismal romances if I say much more, or that farrago of Maturin's."