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"He owe ye money?"

"Nay, good sir, we have not come here to collect a debt We are but admirers of his work," said Smythe

The tavern-keeper looked as if he could not have cared less He simply jerked his head toward the back of the room 'That's 'im in the corner there," he said "Stand 'iht not Suit yerselves"

"Well, then bring hi"

Smythe said "And we shall have some, too"

The tavern-keeperominously with every step They turned their attention to the object of their quest, the man seated at the table in the corner, hunched over his pot of ale, which he clutched firmly with both hands

"Master Greener" said Smythe as they approached

Robert Greene looked up at the his head were a laborious task Despite what Shakespeare had said about how Greene had fallen into dissipation, the sight of him still took Smythe aback The man was bloated He looked swollen, as if he were about to burst His skin was pale and blotchy, in sharp contrast to his thick, unkempt red hair and beard His eyes were rheumy, and it seemed to take a momen

t for his gaze to focus

It took less than a moment, however, for the lean and rat-faced man who sat beside hier "Who wants to know?" he de tone

"Sit the bloody hell down, Ball," the tavern-keeper said, coentleht ye both a drink An' they say they don't want any money, mind ye"

"Eh? That so?" said Ball, gazing at theer

"They have not the look of debt collectors, Ball," said Greene, with a glance at them before his attention became fixed upon the fresh pot of ale the tavern-keeper set before hi so possessively turned out to have been ely around the full one and slowly raised it to his lips, drinking from it deeply He set it back down and wiped the back of his hand across his mouth

"Please sit down, gentle Ball He is my brother-in-law, in an informal sort of way, and has a tendency to be soued by debt collectors, who have hounded rievous harm Ball, here, would not wish to see his sister left without support and his little nephew left an orphan Therefore, he looks after ed, for which kindness I arateful"

They sat down, and Cutting Ball, somewhat reluctantly it seeaze remained firmly fixed on both of them, even while he drank his ale He had the look of an alley-man if Smythe ever saw one, and he made a mental note not to turn his back on him

"So then," Greene went on, "as I perceive you are not debt collectors, what is it you wish of e me to pen a pamphlet you can publish?"

"Nay, sir, we are not printers," Sh we do have an interest in your pae's Men I am called Tuck Smythe, and this is William Shakespeare"

At the mention of Shakespeare's name, Greene stiffened and his bloodshot eyes narrowed "Shakescene?"

"Shakespeare," Will corrected him "William Shakespeare, at your service, sir"

"Methinks I know that name," said Greene "You were lately with the Queen's Men, were you not?"

"Indeed, we both were," Shakespeare replied "I am surprised that you would know that, Master Greene"

"I hear things," Greene replied, his manner very different suddenly "So then… you fancy yourself a poet, do you?"

"Well, I do write soan, but Greene interrupted him