Great Britain -- History -- Elizabeth, 1558-1603 -- Fiction; Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 -- Fiction
First, he was put into a suit of plain black velvet, modest in
appearance, but excellent in quality, very similar to the player’s own.
Then his eyes were carefully darkened and lines painted under them to
add to his years. A pair of fine moustachios was fixed to his upper
lip and a short beard to his chin. Finally, he was accommodated with a
hat with a plume, a ruff for the neck, and at his own request, a very
serviceable sword, which he buckled to his waist with a feeling of keen
satisfaction.
The transformation Gervase had undergone was so complete, that when
Anne returned wearing her own excellent suit, which fitted her
admirably except that it was a little loose in the shoulders, she did
not know him.
“Allow me to present Signor Bandinello,” said the player. “A famous
music master from Italy.”
Anne, in the surprise of the moment, so far forgot her own disguise
as to curtsy. Whereupon, greatly to her discomfiture, Gervase and the
player fairly shouted with laughter.
Anne’s clothes really became her very well indeed. They could hardly
have fitted her slender form better had they been made for her. She,
too, was given a ruff for her neck, a hat with a plume and a dagger to
wear at her waist. Thus accomplished, she made a particularly handsome
and modish boy.
Gervase’s disguise, which had added at least thirty years to his
age, was so complete, that the player had no fear that he would be
recognized. Accordingly, he led him boldly into the inn and duly
presented him to Burbage, Kemp and one or two other members of the
company as a celebrated musician who had consented to take charge of
the music at Richmond on Tuesday week. Anne was introduced as his
son. And it was suggested that Arrigo, a name bestowed upon her by
the playwright on the spur of the moment, should understudy Parflete
for the character of _Rosalind_. Indeed, the author of the new comedy
seemed to be clearly of opinion that the young Signor Arrigo had been
designed expressly by nature to play that delicate and exacting rôle.
Burbage guessed at once who Signor Bandinello and Arrigo his son really
were. But he was far too loyal, even if he had not been too astute, to
share his knowledge with the other members of the company. These, to be
sure, were a little surprised at such an unexpected addition to their
number. Yet not for a moment did they suspect the truth.
Thus, for the time being, a very remarkable change was wrought in the
fortunes of Gervase and Anne. No longer need they seek a roof or a
meal. No longer need they go footsore and hungry. Providence once more
had taken them into its care. It was true that, in some ways, they had
added threefold to their dangers. They had given their lives into the
keeping of a man of whom they knew little or nothing. But having burnt
their boats, they had the courage wholeheartedly to embrace this new
way of life.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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