The Malevolent Comedy (25 page)

‘But that meant that we suffered instead of Saul Hibbert.’

‘They did what they came to do, Lawrence,’ said Nicholas. ‘They killed his play and made him writhe in pain while they did it. His wife, of course, had another reason for revenge. In portraying her as Mistress Malevole, her husband was revealing the darker aspects of her character. When she saw herself in such an unkind light, she was moved to greater fury. Celia Malevant and her brother are two of a kind.’

‘At least, we’ve seen the last of them now,’ said Margery.

‘And of Saul Hibbert,’ added Firethorn. ‘How would you like to share your husband with two or three other wives, my love?’

‘I do that every time you step out onto a stage, Lawrence. Except that there are more than two or three. There’s not a woman in the audience who does not imagine you as husband, paramour or both at once.’ Firethorn laughed heartily. ‘I bear them no ill will as long as you always come home to me.’

‘And always will, sweet wife.’

There was a knock on the door and Margery went out to see who it was. Honeydew covered a yawn with his hand. Firethorn put a paternal arm around him. They were all surprised when Margery came back into the room with Barnaby Gill.

‘We did not expect you to call, Barnaby,’ said Firethorn.

‘Nor I to come here,’ said Gill, doffing his hat, ‘but I bring you tidings that might cheer you.’

‘To have Dick back with us is all the cheer I need.’

‘This is a delicious rumour from Banbury’s Men. I had it from a friend who works at the Curtain as a gatherer. From time to time, he feeds me such tasty morsels.’

‘Go on.’

‘Giles Randolph commissioned a new play.’

‘Yes,’ said Nicholas, knowledgeably. ‘John Vavasor and Cyrus Hame were to be co-authors. When
Lamberto
was such a triumph, it was felt that they could repeat it with
Pompey the Great.’

‘My play, my character, my property!’ asserted Firethorn.

‘And likely to remain so,’ said Gill. ‘From what I hear, the play has been rejected as being unfit for performance. Giles Randolph thought the tragedy too slow and insipid, so the co-authors are out of favour.’

‘This is heartening news, Barnaby. We owe you thanks.’

‘We’ve lost one playwright but they’ve lost two.’

‘Then we steal the advantage once again,’ said Firethorn, happily.

‘And we’ll hold it,’ said Nicholas with confidence, ‘now that we have Edmund back again. He’s found a new Muse. He’s writing a tragedy that will overshadow anything that Saul Hibbert gave us, and push the memory of
Lamberto
into oblivion.’

‘What more could we want?’ asked Margery. ‘The villains have been caught, Dick is safely back with us and Westfield’s Men are set to rule the stage again.’

‘I never ceased to rule it,’ boasted Gill.

Firethorn cackled. ‘You did when that dog bit your bum.’

‘That made
me
laugh as well,’ said Honeydew, giggling.

‘Barnaby deserves praise,’ said Nicholas, trying to appease him. ‘Most actors would have quit the stage in fear. He turned the attack to good account and made it look as if it had been rehearsed.’

‘Thank you, Nicholas,’ said Gill, graciously. ‘I struggled on in pain. A clown can turn anything into clowning if he has the skill. But I’m so relieved to see the back of Saul’s play. It was the strangest comedy I ever saw. I never felt that it really suited us.’

‘How right you were.’

‘And you say that Edmund is writing a new play?’

‘A tragedy,’ replied Nicholas. ‘I’ve never known him so excited about his work. He says that it will be his masterpiece.’

‘And what is this new play called?’ asked Gill.

‘Who cares?’ said Firethorn with a grin. ‘It will be truly
ours
.’

We hope you enjoyed this book.
Do you want to know about our other great reads, download free extracts and enter competitions?
If so, visit our website
www.allisonandbusby.com
.
Click to sign up to our monthly newsletter
for exclusive content and offers, news of our brand new releases, upcoming events with your favourite authors and much more.
And why not click to follow us on
Facebook
and
Twitter
?
We’d love to hear from you!  

E
DWARD
M
ARSTON
was born and brought up in South Wales. A full-time writer for over forty years, he has worked in radio, film, television and the theatre and is a former chairman of the Crime Writers’ Association. Prolific and highly successful, he is equally at home writing children’s books or literary criticism, plays or biographies.

www.edwardmarston.com

T
HE
B
RACEWELL
M
YSTERIES

The Queen’s Head • The Merry Devils • The Trip to Jerusalem

The Nine Giants • The Mad Courtesan • The Silent Woman

The Roaring Boy • The Laughing Hangman • The Fair Maid of Bohemia

The Wanton Angel • The Devil’s Apprentice • The Bawdy Basket

The Vagabond Clown • The Counterfeit Crank •

The Malevolent Comedy • The Princess of Denmark

T
HE
R
AILWAY
D
ETECTIVE SERIES

The Railway Detective • The Excursion Train

The Railway Viaduct • The Iron Horse

Murder on the Brighton Express • The Silver Locomotive Mystery

Railway to the Grave • Blood on the Line

The Stationmaster’s Farewell • Peril on the Royal Train

A Ticket to Oblivion

The Railway Detective Omnibus:

The Railway Detective, The Excursion Train, The Railway Viaduct

T
HE
C
APTAIN
R
AWSON SERIES

Soldier of Fortune • Drums of War • Fire and Sword

Under Siege • A Very Murdering Battle

T
HE
R
ESTORATION SERIES

The King’s Evil • The Amorous Nightingale • The Repentant Rake

The Frost Fair • The Parliament House • The Painted Lady

T
HE
H
OME
F
RONT
D
ETECTIVE SERIES

A Bespoke Murder • Instrument of Slaughter

Five Dead Canaries