The Bawdy Basket Read Free

Firethorn.
    ‘What is?’
    ‘This ruse to distract me so that Frank Quilter could sneak off.’
    ‘The news about the landlord’s illness was important.’
    ‘That’s why you saved it until now, you cunning rogue. You used it as a cloak to throw over the misdemeanours of a bad actor.’
    ‘A good actor, on a bad day,’ corrected Nicholas.
    ‘I’ll hear no excuses.’
    ‘Nor will I offer any. I’ll simply say that Frank has learnt his lesson and is duly contrite. It will never happen again. I give you my word on that.’
    ‘I want to hear the promise from his own mouth.’
    ‘You will, have no fear.’
    Firethorn unclipped his breastplate and tossed it aside. After wiping his face with a piece of cloth, he stared at Nicholas through narrowed lids. The anger had now gone from his voice. It was replaced by curiosity. He scratched his beard ruminatively.
    ‘You like Frank Quilter, do you not?’
    ‘I like him as a friend and admire him as an actor.’
    ‘There was little admire to in his performance today.’
    ‘I disagree,’ said Nicholas. ‘He may have gone astray at times but he was very conscious of his waywardness. When he found his bearings, he sailed through the rest of the play without a single mistake. Reproach him for his faults, if you must, but give him credit for pulling himself together.’
    ‘Can the fellow be trusted, Nick?’
    ‘Without a doubt.’
    ‘Are you sure?’
    ‘I’d stake my life on it.’
    ‘Look to the man’s history,’ warned Firethorn. ‘Before he came to us, he was a sharer with Banbury’s Men, ourdeadly rivals. I thought that he joined us to belong to a superior company but this afternoon’s disgrace made me consider a darker motive.’
    ‘And what might that be?’
    ‘He was planted on us with deliberation by Giles Randolph.’
    ‘Never!’
    ‘Instead of yielding up one of their best actors, Banbury’s Men were putting an enemy in our midst to wreck our best endeavours.’
    ‘That’s unjust!’ returned Nicholas with vehemence.
    ‘Is it?’
    ‘Frank Quilter is proud to be a member of Westfield’s Men. It’s the fulfilment of a dream. He would not willingly inflict damage on us for the world.’
    ‘Then what was he doing this afternoon?’
    ‘His mind strayed to other things.’
    ‘What other things?’
    ‘It’s not for me to say.’
    ‘
What
other things?’ repeated Firethorn, stepping in closer. ‘Come, Nick. I must know. I have responsibility for what happens out there on the stage. If I am to risk letting Frank play with us again, I need to understand the man and be aware of his concerns. Out with it, man! What caused his mind to stray?’
    Nicholas glanced around the room. It was now completely empty. He could not go on shielding his friend indefinitely from Firethorn’s chastisement. The best way to help Frank Quilter was to tell the truth. Hands on his hips,Firethorn would clearly settle for nothing less. He raised a challenging eyebrow.
    ‘Well, Nick?’
    ‘I must first swear you to secrecy. Frank does not want it noised abroad.’
    ‘I’ll be as close as the grave.’
    ‘Then thus it stands,’ said Nicholas quietly. ‘Frank is sorely troubled by a problem in his family and it preys on his mind.’
    Firethorn was scornful. ‘We all have problems in our families,’ he said harshly. ‘Look at me, for example. My wife hounds me from breakfast until bedtime, my children tax me with their incessant demands, and my servants irritate me with their stupidity. I tell you, Nick, in all honesty, there are days on which I regret that I ever surrendered my freedom and married. Here at the Queen’s Head, I’m a bachelor still. Whenever I step upon that stage, I repudiate the very existence of a wife and children.’ Striking a pose, he made a grand gesture with his arm. ‘An actor should have no family.’
    ‘Frank has no choice in the matter.’
    ‘When he takes part in a play, his family should disappear.’
    ‘A disappearance is the