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my boots the previous day, Ruy had heard that he had lost his sumach and aniseed monopoly and the Privy Council looked coldly on all his excuses and appeals. The Queen, however, who had always valued him and treated his family kindly, had sent word that she would not dismiss him. It was his nature always to rage at any insult or setback, while an instance of good fortune was regarded as merely his due. Today he was stamping about the house, swearing at the servants and snapping at Sara when she pointed out the blessing of the Queen’s continued patronage. All he could think about was his treatment by the Privy Council.
    Soon he would need to concentrate solely on his medical practice once more, particularly after the loss of income from the monopoly, and leave off meddling in affairs of state. He would again be scurrying between the courts at Greenwich, Hampton Court, and Whitehall, or attending the Queen on her progresses, then riding out to Eton to treat Dom Antonio, who was held there little better than a prisoner (for he had tried to escape to the Continent), and riding back again to treat my Lord Essex at Essex House. In the meantime, however, all he could think of was the insult and drop in income through losing his monopoly. It was better for both Rikki and me to be out of the house.
    So I would take Rikki with me once again to Seething Lane. However, I thought I would make a better case if I went alone to see Sir Francis. I could leave the dog with the stable lad Harry, who was fond of him. It would also give me the chance to look in on Hector, the ugly piebald I often rode on Walsingham’s business. It seemed a long time since I had last had the chance to do so.
    I donned my new clothes, strapped on my sword, and begged a couple of small apples from the cook to give to Hector. While I had been waiting for my boots to be polished by Liza Cordiner, I had gone next door and bought a new collar and lead for Rikki from Bess Winterly. His old ones had vanished along with all my other possessions. I was running up more debts to Sara, who brushed aside my promises to repay her, but I was keeping careful note of everything I spent. I would never let myself fall into debt as my father had done, but would repay her every penny and groat. For a moment I thought longingly of replacing my father’s lost medical books, but it would be long before I possessed the chinks to do that, even if I could find any copies amongst the booksellers in Paul’s Churchyard.
    The evening before I had sent a note round to Seething Lane, asking if Sir Francis could see me, and a servant had brought back a reply before I went to bed, saying that he would be free after he had returned from his morning visit to the Queen, at ten of the clock. Sir Francis was Her Majesty’s Principal Secretary, which meant he carried a great burden of duties in addition to organising and directing his secret service of agents and code-breakers. When I had last seen him, he had looked even more ill than usual. It was never spoken of, and I could not be sure what ailed him, but I knew he was often in pain. I suspect it might be some disease of the kidneys or liver. Dr Nuñez was his physician and would, of course, maintain the strictest silence on the condition of his distinguished patient.
    As I walked through the hot and busy streets, where everyone seemed to be going about their daily occupations as usual, I thought how deceptive was this appearance of calm. The three greatest figures in the realm, on whom rested the peace and security of England, were all of them growing old or ill. The Queen seemed indomitable, but she could not live for ever. She had no child and would not speak of appointing an heir, though Lord Stanley’s mother might be regarded as the nearest thing to one, by the provisions of King Henry’s will. Lord Burghley, on whom the Queen had depended since she was no more than a girl, was becoming old and frail. Sir Francis had constant bouts of