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Chapter 1

The Dag and Dirk was tucked aithin a row of buildings on a narrow, cobbled street down by the docks, its entrance a heavy, scarred, and weathered wooden door beneath a painted hanging sign depicting a flintlock pistol and a dagger Although it had not rained that day, the paving stones were slick and wet, partly from the river mist and partly from the waste and offal thrown out into the street The acrid odour of the refusein off the Tha fish And once inside the tavern, the smell was not much better

"Methinks that this was ill considered, Tuck," said Shakespeare, as he looked around apprehensively at their surroundings "Half the ladly cut our throats for the contents of our purses, whilst the other half look as if they would simply do it for a lark"

"'Tis just a tavern, Will, h he did not feel quite as certain as he sounded as he glanced around at all the patrons,lot Many of theat the well-stained wooden tables over pots of ale herry-rizzleds the residents of London up and down the river With the streets often congested by all the carriages and carts and coaches, to say nothing of pedestrians and riders on horseback all vying for the right of way, travelling by river was often the fastest way to get around the city Most likely the safest, as well, thought Siven the steady increase in criood chance that a fair nuled with the crowd, not to mention cut-throats

The city constables were, for the most part, ineffective, since they were too few and far too mindful of their own self-preservation to do verycri with the riots, now als of roaring boys roa for trouble Every now and then, some malefactor would find himself—or herself—placed under arrest and thrown into one of London's prisons, such as the Marshal-sea, the Newgate, or the Clink, and there were always fresh heads to be placed upon the spikes along the bridge For theof which Smythe and Shakespeare were all too uncoriht of the tavern

"A tavern much like any other, eh? Methinks not," Shakespeare said uneasily "There is little of the Toad and Badger's merriment in here, Tuck I have been to wakes that werein the very air of this place"

"'Tis because they have not changed the rushes in at least a week," said Smythe

"Aye, well, that, too," said Shakespeare, wrinkling his nose "Be here you tread Look to your purse, as well 'Strewth, I should be grateful if we e to leave this infernal place in one piece"

"If it truly makes you feel so apprehensive, Will, then let us depart forthwith," said Smythe

"Nay," said Shakespeare with a sigh, "we have coh, Ithis fellow seems so terribly important to you He wrote some decent poetry, and his plays ell received once, but he is non on his luck, by all accounts, just another poor and dissipated poet And 'tis not as if there is a shortage of such men in London, you know"

"Aye, I do know I have one for a roommate," Smythe replied wryly

"Watch it…

"In truth, Will, neither his plays nor his poems interest me so much as do his pamphlets about crime," said Smythe

"I know, I know You have been cluttering up our roos 'Tis a most peculiar fascination"

"I have seen you reading them, as well," said Smythe, defensively

"Out of si, I suppose, but hardlynew toof his fellow man"

"Perhaps not in the grand literary schereat deal toof this criminal 'underworld' in London, as he calls it I find it all quite fascinating Consider the way they speak, as an exauage all their own Take the way they call their victi them to rabbits they can snare There is s, Will, particularly for one ,who comes from the country, like myself, and knows little of the ways of criminals in the city"

Shakespeare sighed again "Well, I shall grant you that, for I have learned a thing or two fro him myself Nevertheless, I cannot help but feel a little sorry for hiarded and respected, who has had his poee We have staged a number of them ourselves, even if they were a little dated and needed a bit of sprucing up here and there 'Tis a pity to see him fall to such a state"

"You ?"

"Oh, not at all I never decry good, honest work A poet has to eat, like any other man I meant reduced to such a state as this… He indicated their surroundings with a gesture and grimaced with distaste "If this be not the filthiest place in London, then I should not like to behold one filthier"

"Soft, Will, here comes the tavern-keeper, I believe," said

Smythe

A large and beardedhis hands on his greasy brown leather apron "What will ye gentleruffly

"We are looking for Master Robert Greene," said Smythe "We were told he maybe found here"