Skull and Bones

Chapter 15

A pair of white horses charged at dizzy speed around the sandy-floored circular enclosure, with a dancing girl leaping from one to another, turning cartwheels in the air, while a bizarre clown in red-and-white stripes and conical white cap chased after them on an ostrich, blowing a trumpet to the accompaniment of a full, costumed chorus singing on the stage behind. All this against a dazzling backdrop of brilliantly painted scenery panels which shifted in a rainbow of colour, while a band of two dozen musicians blared furiously in the orchestra pit between.

Selena stared in wonderment. She'd never seen any kind of theatrical performance, let alone a spectacle like this. It assaulted the senses in colour, music, voices and skills. She clapped her hands and cheered, as did Katty Cooper, for it had been a long time since even she had seen the like.

But theirs was the only applause. They were the entire audience on this Sunday rehearsal, for no plays nor entertainments might be performed on the Lord's day.

And then the scene was over, and the performers — even the horses and the ostrich — were bowing to an empty house, and the clown clapping his hands, and giving all present his review of their performance, praising some, cursing others, before sending them off to their dressing rooms and stables.

Soon, nothing was left but the hoofmarks and footsteps in the sand, and a strong smell of horseflesh and greasepaint.

"Mrs Cooper!" said the clown, stepping forward to where his audience of two were seated. "My dear, my very dear!" And he waddled forward, less than five feet tall in his blouse and pantaloons, and his white stockings and his flat-white makeup with red lips and painted black eyebrows.

He bowed and took Katty Cooper's hand, then, with astonishing grace for so grotesque a creature, he knelt to plant a gentle kiss in the centre of her pink palm.

"Oh, my dear Mr Abbey!" she said, and for once a genuine smile shone from her pretty little face, for even Katty Cooper had been a girl once, and had memories of innocence. He bowed again, this time towards Selena.

"And is this the sable nymph? La belle fille noire?"

"May I present Miss Henderson, my protegee," said Katty.

"Ah!" said Abbey. "Let us say Mrs Henderson, for this is not London."

Abbey stepped back, and gave yet another bow, this time of such extravagant and comical elaboration that it was a work of art, and Selena couldn't help but laugh. The clown clapped his hands and smiled.

"And may I present… the amphitheatre, of which I am owner and manager!" he said. "Empty today, but all the better for you to see it. Come forward! See!"

Selena stared. It was wonderful. The sandy circle in which they were standing was enclosed by a bright-painted barrier some four feet high. To one side was a pit for musicians, then a great proscenium arch and stage, and on the other side were three tiers of seats running in a semi-circle, with many more seats packed in at ground level around the circle.

"A full house holds nearly seven hundred persons," said Abbey. "It is admirably adapted for spectacles — especially equestrian — and the scenery, machinery and decorations are executed by the finest artists in the country." He pointed upwards: "Illuminated by one of the biggest glass chandeliers in England, supporting over two hundred fine wax candles!"

"One of the finest auditoriums… in the provinces," said Katty Cooper.

Abbey winced.

"You seek to wound!" he cried, raising his arms in self- protection. "We are mere peasants to the daughter of Drury Lane!" They both laughed.

"So!" said Abbey to Katty Cooper, and looked at Selena. "What can she do?"

Katty Cooper had been thinking about that all the way to England, and now they were safe arrived in Polmouth, and lodged in its best hotel, and favours had been asked of her old friend…

"Let us first see her in costume!" Katty smiled. "As requested in my letter."

"As in your letter!" said Abbey. "Will you follow me, ladies?"

He took them to a private dressing room, laid out a costume, bowed and left them to it.

Ten minutes later, Katty Cooper led Selena back, taking her to the middle of the stage and propelling her forward for Abbey to see.

"Ah!" said Abbey. One syllable, short and sharp, for the "costume" could have been stored in a thimble, being engineered from one silk handkerchief and a handful of glittering stars. "Thank you, Mrs Henderson," said Abbey. "Would you be so kind as to excuse Mrs Cooper and me while we hold a brief, professional discussion?"

They left the stage, walked to the far side of the circular enclosure and stood, looking back at Selena, left standing in mid-stage with her arms folded, tapping one foot and staring suspiciously towards them. Abbey smiled and waved. Katty smiled and waved.

"Where did you find her?" whispered Abbey. "She is quite, quite, spectacularly beautiful. I have never seen the like. She is very lovely indeed, and I am lost for words!" He looked at Katty Cooper. "Is she in your trade, dear heart?"

"Not yet. She's got to be shown off."

"On the stage?"

"Yes. Enough public performances to make her name…"

"Followed by some select private performances?"

"Then we'll be open to offers," said Katty.

Abbey sighed. "And I suppose these performances must be in London?"

"Of course!"

"And the provinces are but stepping stones?"

"Yes. An unknown girl doesn't walk straight into Drury Lane."

"Huh!" said Abbey. "So, I ask again, what can she do?"

"No," said Katty, stooping to kiss his white cheek. "You tell me…"

Back on the stage, Abbey produced a small violin, which he played with tremendous skill. The sound was so merry that it was a wonder the seats didn't get up to dance.

"Follow me, Mrs Henderson," said Abbey. "Do as I do." And he danced around the stage with Selena following and attempting to mimic his moves, which started simple and grew complex, till she strained and ached. At last Abbey put down the fiddle and clapped time, rather than playing, and danced step after step after step.

"And this! And this! And this!" he cried, and seemed never to tire.

Then he gave her a brief rest and a glass of water before taking up the violin again, this time for a simple country song.

"Follow the tune, my dear," he said. "La-la-la if you don't know the words."

Which progressed to more difficult works and finally to Selena singing a song of her own choosing. And then:

"I shall speak some lines from a play. I want you to repeat them to me, as clearly as you can, and with as much passion as you can…"

An hour later, Selena was sent back to the dressing room, where a jug, bowl and towels had been set out for her to wash the sweat off herself before she put on her own clothes again.

"Well?" said Katty Cooper.

"She'll never make an actress. She sings passing well. She dances with moderate grace… and every man in England will fall in love with her! She enchants the eye, she ravishes the senses."

"So?"

"She'll do! Songs and dances can be arranged to suit her limitations, and she should appear in melodramas and spectacles… wearing as few clothes as decency will allow!"

"Good," said Katty. "Then you'll book her?"

"Of course." He shrugged. "And I suppose you'll tour the provinces?"

"Getting letters of recommendation from such as yourself."

"And will descend upon London in triumph…"

"Yes," said Katty. "It will take some months, but I'll do it."

Abbey looked miserable. "And you'll show her off on stage," he said, "then sell her to the highest bidder?"

Katty Cooper smiled with exquisite prettiness, and sighed in peaceful contentment. She nodded.

"Oh yes," she said, "as many times as I may."