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presentable. I spent much time on it. In the end, the work was mine, not Rowe’s nor that of his friend.”
    “I suppose by ‘his friend,’ you mean Teazle?”
    “Yes, Teazle.”
    “So you felt that the play was your own to do with as you liked?”
    “It was mine. I wrote it. I will show you the original and my alterations. At first, I asked only to be made a full partner in the endeavor. When Rowe refused, saying the work was his and his friend s alone, I put the name of Zenobia on it and took it to Blackfriars. I told Rowe after I had sold it and offered to give him a guinea for the plot. I did not wish to be ungenerous. He refused. Rowe found out which theater I had sold it to and even went to the theater after I had left him last night, claiming that I had stolen the work.
    “But from what was said yesterday afternoon, I had the impression that Rowe might have accepted the money if Teazle had not refused his share of the guinea. Rowe told me that Teazle thought him to be in some plot with me to cheat him and share more money after the play was produced. I told Rowe that it was up to him to make his peace with Teazle. I think a guinea was a fair sum to pay for the idea which I had to turn into literature.”
    “I doubt whether a magistrate would agree with your liberal interpretation of the law,” Master Drew replied dryly. “Has Master Teazle spoken to you of this business? Where is he now?”
    Hawkins gestured disdainfully. “Somewhere about the theater. I avoid him. He has a childish temper and believes himself to be some great artist against whom the whole world is plotting. Anyway, I can prove that I am not concerned in the death of young Rowe. I have robbed no one.”
    “That remains to be seen.”
    Master Drew left him and went to the side of the stage. The third scene of the second act was closing. The characters of Anne Bullen and an Old Lady were on stage. Anne was saying,
—Would I had no being ,
If this salute my blood a jot; it faints me ,
to think what follows .
The queen is comfortless, and we forgetful
In our long absence: pray, do not deliver
What here you’ve heard to her .

    The old lady replied indignantly: “What do you think me?” And both made their exit.
    All was now being prepared for the next scene.
    Master Drew glanced around, wondering which of the players was Teazle.
    Something drew his eye across the auditorium to the box on the second story in front of the stage. Someone was standing, bending over the small cannon that had been pointed out to the constable earlier. Master Richard Burbage had explained that the cannon would herald the scene with a royal salute, followed by trumpets and cornets, and then the King and his cardinals would lead a procession onto the stage.
    The muzzle of the cannon appeared to be pointing rather low.
    The constable turned to find Master Cuthbert Burbage at his shoulder.
    “That is going to stir things a little.” The business manager of the theater, who had observed Master Drew’s examination, grinned.
    “Your brother has already explained it to me,” the constable replied. “The cannon will be fired to herald the entrance of the procession in the next act, but isn’t the muzzle pointing directly at the stage?”
    “No harm. It is only a charge of gunpowder which creates the explosion. There is no ball to do damage. Take no alarm; young Toby Teazle has done this oftimes before.”
    Master Drew started uneasily. “That is Master Teazle up there with the cannon?”
    A cold feeling of apprehension began to grip him as he stared at the muzzle of the cannon. Then he began to move hurriedly toward the stairs on the far side of the auditorium, pushing protesting spectators out of his way in his haste. He was aware of Cuthbert Burbage shouting something to him.
    By the time he reached the second floor, he was aware of the actors moving onto the stage in the grand procession. He heard a voice he recognized as the actor playing Wolsey. “Whilst our