'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.'
' Melmoth the Wanderer?' asked John Henry, a little taken aback that Ragoczy should know the work.
Ragoczy did not answer. He glanced at the ledger one last time. 'Tomorrow a clerk from my solicitor will visit Mr Tubbs. He will say that I have asked to have my business here reviewed. Oh, never fear. I will demand the same of the other merchants with whom I have done business. I will not single this firm out for the solicitors' attention.' He took a rapid turn around the room; the lamplight danced and sparkled in the jewels on his Order. 'I will do everything I can to make it appear that this is not an unusual request. Since I am a foreigner, I am certain that Mr Tubbs will be willing to think the worst of me for that.'
John Henry coloured. 'He is one of those who thinks Jesus Christ spoke in English.'
'He has that look to him,' Ragoczy agreed. He halted in front of John Henry and held out his hand. 'It's settled then.'
'Yes, all right,' said John Henry as his large hand closed over Ragoczy's small one. 'It's settled.'
In the private parlour of the pub, the company of actors were still exhilarated by the great success they had had with their new production of Romeo and Juliet . At the head of the long table, the young man who had paid for the Royal Soho Theatre production and for the privilege of playing Romeo, was still holding court, flushed with a heady combination of port and applause.
'You were quite wonderful, Henry,' said the woman beside him, a cozy matron who had played Lady Capulet. 'You'll go far, you mark my words.'
Henry was willing to be convinced. 'Ah, Meg, Meg. It's such a good play, that's what makes the difference.' He frowned a little, wishing his family had been willing to come, but they were such strict Christians that they rarely ventured out to public entertainments of any sort.
The director, who had also played Mercutio, was more than half drunk, and he swung around to face Henry, lifting his glass.
'So you think you'll take the London stage by storm, do you?'
'One day I hope to,' said Henry, already hungry for the time it would happen.
'That's what they all do,' the director muttered, sounding bitter.
'You leave off baiting him,' Meg ordered the director. 'Just because he's a better player than you'
'Better player!' scoffed the director, taking another long draught of dark ale. 'Why, he's as green as as' He lost the direction of his thought.
'Yes, he's green,' said Meg with some heat. 'But he's got it in him. You can tell by what he does. He's got the touch.' She beamed at Henry, her smile not as motherly as it had been. 'You'll all see. I know Henry's going to go far.'
Henry basked in her approval and watched as the rest of the company caroused themselves into fatigue, and then began to drift off into the night. Henry was one of the last to leave, pausing to tip the landlord for allowing them to hire the private parlour for the later hours.
As he stepped into the street, he paused, realizing it was very late; the windows were dark in the buildings that faced the road. No traffic moved over the cobbles. Only the skitter of rats attracted his attention as he pulled his coat about him and started towards his home.
Then he heard a soft, crisp footfall, and with a cry of alarm he turned, expecting to see one of the desperate street thieves who preyed upon the unwary. He brought up his arm. 'I have a pistol,' he warned.
The answer out of the dense shadows was amused. 'Do you really, Mr Brodribb.' A moment later, Ferenc Ragoczy stepped out of the darkness. He was wearing his hooded cloak, as he had been the first time John Henry had seen him. As he walked up to the young actor, he said, 'Congratulations. That was a very impressive debut.'
'You saw it?' asked John Henry.
'Yes.' Ragoczy smiled, the pallid light from the distant street lamp casting a sharply angled shadow over his features. 'I am pleased your inheritance was so well spent.'
John Henry felt suddenly very callow. 'I should have thanked you, I know, but with the trial and all, I didn't think it would'
'What reason do you have to thank me? The legacy was from your uncle, wasn't it?' He started to walk towards the main road, motioning to John Henry to walk with him. 'If anything I should thank you for the six thousand pounds my solicitors recovered from Mr Tubbs and Mr Lamkin.'
