The Merchant of Vengeance (Shakespeare & Smythe 4)

"You had never met him?"

"Never!"

"I would ask you to look upon these two men," said Shakespeare, beckoning to Smythe, who came forward with two burly fellows. "Have you ever seen either of these two men before?"

Antonia glanced toward them contemptuously and looked away. "I have never laid eyes upon them."

"Ah, but they have laid eyes upon you," said Shakespeare.

"Gentlemen, would you be so kind as to tell this court your names?"

"My name is Evan Drury," said one of the two men, stepping forward.

"And mine is Ian Davies," said the other.

"And what is your occupation?" Shakespeare asked.

"We are paid to act as guards in the street where Master Leffingwell, the tailor, Master Jefferies, the mercer, and Masters Hollowell and Jennings, the silk merchants, have their shops," said Drury.

Antonia turned pale.

"Have you ever seen this woman before" asked Shakespeare. "Aye, many times," said Davies.

"Where did you see her?"

"In the street where we are paid to sit and guard the shops," said Drury.

"Specifically, in what circumstances did you see her?"

"She often went to visit the young gentleman who lived above Master Jefferies's shop," said Drury.

"This would be Thomas Locke?" asked Shakespeare.

"Aye, sir. We saw them together upon more than one occasion," Davies said.

"And did they seem as if they knew one another?"

"Oh, I would say they knew one another very well, indeed, sir," Davies replied with a smirk.

"So you would also say that they most likely knew one another often?" Shakespeare asked.

"I would venture to say they did, sir," Davies replied, grinning.

"I would venture to say so, indeed."

The reaction of the audience was instantaneous and tumultuous. Locke hammered away upon the table repeatedly, trying to restore order. Antonia stood absolutely motionless, white as a ghost. Elizabeth simply sat there, numbly shaking her head with disbelief. Winifred was speechless.

"Lies!" screamed Antonia, her voice rising above the din. "Lies.!

Lies.! Foul lies! These men have been paid to lie about me!"

"Silence.!" Locke shouted, hammering upon the table again and again. "Silence I say.!"

"I call Portia Mayhew!" said Shakespeare.

Slowly, Portia stood. For a moment, she and Antonia simply stared at one another. The room became very still. Shakespeare turned his back upon Antonia and came over toward Portia.

"When did you learn that Thomas and Antonia were lovers?" he asked her gently.