They shuffled along until they reached the theatre’s main entrance. Squeezing through the doors, they entered a magnificent open-air amphitheatre with three tiers of galleries round the outer wall overlooking a large rush-covered yard. A rectangular stage jutted out into this central pit area, and on either side of the stage, two marble columns supported a ceiling painted with wispy clouds and a sea-blue sky. An ornate balcony overhung the stage at the back and a thatched roof sheltered those rich enough to afford seats in the galleries.

Jack and his friends stood in the central pit along with all the other groundlings who’d paid their penny to watch the play. Looking around, Jack searched the galleries for the elusive Mr Bodley. There were several lords and their retinue of servants, many well-to-do gentlemen and ladies, but no red-feathered artist’s apprentices.

‘Can anyone see him?’ asked Jack, beginning to think that the miniaturist had sent them on a wild goose chase.

Rose shook her head. ‘Not yet, but I don’t think everyone’s in.’

A buzz of conversation, laughter and merrymaking consumed the spectators as they waited for the play to begin. A young woman bearing a large wicker basket threaded her way through the crowd, selling apples, nuts and bottles of beer. As she passed by, Rose subtly lightened her load of a bag of nuts.

‘Did you just steal that?’ asked Akiko, horrified.

‘I can’t deny my nature,’ said Rose, popping a nut into her mouth and grinning. She offered Akiko the bag. ‘Want one?’

‘No, thank you,’ she replied, then turned away to resume the search.

‘I’ll have one,’ said Jack, only catching the last part of the conversation. He chomped on the nut as his eyes continued to scan the galleries and pit, but, with the audience constantly shifting around, it was impossible to keep track of anyone.

‘I’m afraid I can’t see much,’ said Yori, whose ringed staff was the only visible presence of him amid the throng.

‘Don’t worry, Yori. You keep a careful watch on Jack’s purse,’ Rose replied, gently patting his shoulder. ‘In a crowd like this, one needs to be wary of pickpockets.’

‘It takes one to know one, I suppose,’ said Akiko under her breath.

Rose glared at her. ‘What was that?’

Akiko smiled politely. ‘I was just saying, that’s good to know –’ Her eyes suddenly focused and she pointed towards the front of the stage. ‘There he is!’